Retail News February 2022

Retail News FEBRUARY 2022

Ireland’s Longest Established Grocery Magazine

Northern Ireland.

Bringing our world-class food and drink to your table.

When you source food and drink from Northern Ireland you can be sure of its pure, natural, quality. That’s why Invest Northern Ireland’s Food and Drink division works with local producers to help them take their products around the world. Whether it’s helping companies to find new markets in the Republic of Ireland, or working with UK supply chains to drive new sales, Invest NI partners with our local producers to help them identify new trends, bring forward innovative products and grow their business.

Learn how you can serve our quality food and drink.

Northern Ireland. Altogether more.

For further information contact Jen Guiney, Invest NI E: Jen.Guiney@investni.com M: +44 79 8511 1024

Grand Central Hotel, Belfast, Co. Antrim

We work with NI producers to help identify new trends, bring forward innovative products and grow their business.

Retail News|February 2022|www.retailnews.ie|1

Contents News 2

What minimum is too much: Assessing the impact of MUP on offlicences in border areas.

3

Tánaiste opens Aldi Ireland’s new corporate office.

4

Pandemic habits remain in grocery retailing; Centra to anchor Portmarnock retail centre.

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5

New CEO for Tesco Ireland.

Healthy Options

6

Lidl Ireland win European CSR award; Appointment at FSAI.

7

New MD at Fresh; Linked Finance launch open banking service.

What’s in store for retailers?

AS Irish society gets back to some kind of normality (at the time of writing) after two years of unprecedented chaos, upset and stress, what can Irish grocery retailers expect in the year ahead?

A raft of new legislation, if our policy-makers have their way, with a host of changes being mooted that will effect our trade, from sick pay to mandatory pension enrolment. RGDATA Director General, Tara Buckley, argues that independent retailers are absolutely exhausted after the last two years and that these proposed regulations will put undue stress on an already pressured trade. In a comprehensive interview, Buckley discusses the big challenges facing the Irish grocery trade in the year ahead, from town centre regeneration to retail crime (Page 14).

One piece of legislation that has already come into force is Minimum Unit Pricing on alcohol. Our Chief News Reporter, Pavel Barter talks to off licence owners on both sides of the border to ascertain the impact so far (Page 2).

We also reveal the top trends for 2022, as identified by Kerry Group (Page 20), focus on consumer desire for healthier options in-store (Page 34-43), look at some of the technological advancements that would give your store a competitive edge (Page 44-49) and Owen Clifford, Head of Retail Sector, Bank of Ireland, examines the areas you need to address in your business plan in order to secure funding to sustain your business going forward (Page 52).

Kathleen Belton Editorial & Marketing Director

22 3

44

Independent retailers have consistently delivered top class service in adversity over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, but now face the added stress of a raft of new legislation that is going to place additional stress on already beleaguered store owners and an extra squeeze on already tight margins, argues Tara Buckley, RGDATA Director General.

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19

In the Zone is an exciting new Irish protein cookie brand from East Coast Bakehouse, which is endorsed by the GAA and GPA.

Top Trends for 2022 20

Kerry Group have identified six key taste trends that will shape food and beverage innovation and product launches in 2022.

Ireland’s Longest Established Grocery Magazine

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Editorial & Marketing Director: Kathleen Belton

kathleenbelton@retailnews.ie

Editor: John Walshe

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Published by: Tara Publishing Ltd,

Sales: Brian Clark

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14 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2.

Sales: Aaron Stewart

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Tel: 00353 1 6785165 Fax: 00353 1 6477127

Chief News Reporter:

Pavel Barter

Web: www.retailnews.ie Email: info@retailnews.ie

Production: Ciara Conway

ciara@tarapublications.ie

Subscription to Retail News: e95 plus VAT Email: morgan.stokes@tarapublications.ie

Wine Correspondent: Jean Smullen Graphics: Catherine McDonagh

Printed by: W&G Baird

Consumer demand for healthier products is fuelling both NPD and market growth across a host of categories in-store, from plant-based foods to non-alcoholic beers.

Reproduction without written permission is strictly prohibited.

New technological developments can help to give you the edge over competitors, from payment technology to data analysis, intelligent ordering and category management.

Garnier 51

Garnier have responded to the results of their annual One Green Step report by expanding their Green Beauty initiative and launching a new No Rinse Conditioner.

Market Analysis: Funding 52

East Coast Bakehouse

Retail News Managing Director: Patrick Aylward

34

The value of Ireland’s food, drink and horticulture exports increased by 4% to a record €13.5 billion in 2021, despite the impact of Covid-19 and Brexit on trading.

Retail Technology

Retail News Interview 14

Food & Drink Exports

In assessing a funding request, there are some important areas that need to be addressed within the retailer’s business plan, writes Owen Clifford, Head of Retail Sector, Bank of Ireland.

Employment Law

54

Bullying or employee management?

There is an important distinction between the two, according to Barry Reynolds and Chris Ryan of DAC Beachcroft.

Regulars & Reports 8 Industry News 22 Easter Treats 28 Retail Ireland: Monthly Update 30 Paper Products 50 Drinks News 57 What’s New 58 Forecourt Focus: News 60 Shelf Life

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What minimum Assessing the impact of MUP on offlicences in border areas.

ALCOHOL producers are thinking creatively following the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) in January 2022. Suppliers have delisted products and made over 20 changes in product sizes, according to industry sources.

Some brands have reduced the alcohol content in their brands in order to abide

by MUP restrictions. Linden Village Cider, for example, reduced its content from 6% to 5%, thereby keeping the product in its original price category.

The impact of MUP on grocers, particularly those in border areas, has been a concern for retail representative groups. “Consumers are increasingly looking across the border to shop given there are significant price differentials,” said Arnold Dillon, director of Retail Ireland. Vincent Jennings, CEO of the CSNA, noted that members have reported “additional sales being made north of the border”. Tara Buckley, RGDATA Director General, said “traffic going north to buy cheaper alcohol has increased.”

Retail News visited Michael Finnegan, who owns Camelot Off Sales in Dundalk, near the border. He was optimistic about MUP. “People have a misconception that independent off-licences were hit by this,” said Finnegan. “This was actually a massive favour for independent offlicences. It will increase our margins because supermarkets were selling below cost. Independent off-licences cannot compete against someone selling their product at a loss. I met with a senator months before this came in and

discussed a formula for working out a price. I told him the same thing: we can’t wait for MUP. I’m sorry it didn’t come in five years ago.”

Retail News also spoke to Charlie McClafferty who runs McClafferty’s Carry Out in Letterkenny, half an hour’s drive from the border. “Our wine sales have gone up and we’re as busy this January as we were last January,” said McClafferty. “I would say 80% of the stock in our shop hasn’t been affected.”

Off-licence owners agree there has been a change in pricing and consumer habits, however. MUP was one of the last measures of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act to come into force. Under the new rules, alcohol pricing will be based on the grams of alcohol it contains. Alcohol will not be able to be sold, at a minimum, beneath 10c per gram. A 500ml 4.3% can of beer must cost at least €1.70. Cheap

Arnold Dillon, Director, Retail Ireland.

beers, therefore, are most affected.

Finnegan noted that five of his beer products have increased in price including Dutch Gold, Tennent’s Lager, and Strongbow Cider. Under MUP rules, an average bottle of wine cannot be sold for under €7.40, which may impact multiples more than independent stores.

“We don’t sell very cheap bottles of wine,” said Finnegan.

Cider was one of the hardest categories hit in Scotland when MUP was introduced in 2018. The biggest impact in Ireland may be felt on slabs of beer at promotional prices. “Tennent’s has been a big hit for us,” noted McClafferty.

“Tennent’s is a massive seller in Donegal.

We usually get a pallet of Tennent’s every week while other off-licences might get two or three cases. We were selling a slab of 24 cans for €24: a euro a can.

Now it’s €6 for 4 [€36 for a slab of 24].”

Other manufacturers have downsized.

“You can buy slabs for more or less the same price, although you are getting less volume,” said Vincent Jennings.

“Shrinkflation is now visiting alcohol.

It’s been there for a number of other fast moving consumer goods, including biscuits and confectionery, for some time.”

Top branded beers are unlikely to be affected in the short term. As of late January, 2022, Tesco and Dunnes were selling four cans of Guinness for the usual €8. Brands such as Carlsberg, Heineken and Beamish have also maintained pre-MUP prices. In Finnegan’s outlet, one bottle of whiskey and one brand of vodka have gone up in price.

“If the cheaper beers are more expensive now, it might push people to premium products,” reasoned Finnegan.

McClafferty agrees, noting that he has “definitely seen people” trading up in the beer category in particular.

There are industry concerns that MUP might create a concertina effect and push up pricing across the board. “There would be a desire from the distributors of premium products to maintain a level of differentiation [from so-called ‘cheaper’ products],” said Jennings.

Retail News also visited Newry across the border. An independent off-sales proprietor on Dublin Road claimed not to have seen a change in sales, but stressed that the Quays Shopping Centre might be a different matter. Around 50% of cars in the Quays car park had southern

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is too much? registrations from as far away as Dublin and this was on a Monday. But this wasn’t so surprising in Newry where its own residents go south to purchase cheaper fuel.

In these early days of MUP, evidence is anecdotal. Nevertheless, the lack of alignment between the two jurisdictions has unnerved retailers. The Irish government initially pledged not to introduce MUP until similar rules were introduced in Northern Ireland. In April 2021, Retail Ireland Director Arnold Dillon wrote to the Taoiseach, outlining an economic impact assessment report which stated that MUP would increase the existing price differential on alcohol between RoI and NI from 27% to 38%, further enhancing a €510m annual loss in cross-border alcohol sales.

Yet the Irish government pressed ahead without alignment.

“It is a double concern for our members in border areas because they feel that customers go to Northern Ireland for alcohol and buy the rest of their shopping while there,” said Buckley.

NOffLA, the representative group for off-licences in Ireland, welcomed MUP but encouraged Northern Ireland to introduce a similar regime “to create an all-island model”.

Independent off-licence owners in border areas, who we spoke to, are remaining optimistic. “80% of our customers buy enough to do them for that night. They aren’t going to drive to Strabane for eight cans of Budweiser,” said McClafferty. “People planning a party in a month’s time will go across

Vincent Jennings, CEO, CSNA. the border, but as a small off-licence, we weren’t getting their business anyway. It’s probably a bit unknown yet what way it’s all going to go.”

Until the dust settles, it’s business as usual for off sales in Ireland.

Tánaiste opens Aldi Ireland’s new corporate office ALDI Ireland recently opened their new state-of-the-art corporate office in Naas, Co. Kildare, also confirming the retailer will recruit 600 new store staff this year.

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD, officially opened the new 41,000 squre feet Birch House, Millennium Park facility, which will house Aldi’s National Buying and Marketing teams.

The Tánaiste’s visit to Birch House included a tour of the building, a presentation of Irish product and a virtual address to all Aldi head office staff which took place via Microsoft Teams to adhere to public health guidelines.

The move reflects Aldi’s continued expansion over the past several years, which has seen their workforce grow to over 4,650 staff, supporting 149 Irish stores. Aldi have committed to a €320m three-year (2022-2024) investment programme that will see the group open a further 30 new stores across the country.

Aldi’s commitment to sourcing award winning Irish products has led to significant growth in their National Buying and Marketing teams, which have expanded from four staff in 2004 to 120 today. Aldi now work with over 330 Irish food and drink producers, spending over €1 billion with Irish producers in 2021, an increase of almost 20% on 2020, including €250m on Irish food and drink during the busy Christmas trading period.

Officially opening Aldi’s new corporate office, the Tánaiste noted how “This is more fantastic news from Aldi, another 600 new jobs being created, in addition to the 1,050 added last year. This is a real testament to Aldi’s commitment to Ireland and the hard work of its existing team here. I’m really pleased to see that Aldi will be further increasing its hourly rate and offers a living wage. A big priority for me is making sure sick pay is available to all employees and it’s great to see that Aldi has a scheme in place. This expansion is also great news for Irish suppliers, who partner with Aldi and demonstrate the strength of the grocery retail sector as a whole. The very best

Pictured at the official opening of Aldi’s corporate office in Naas, Co. Kildare, are Leo Varadkar TD, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, with Niall O’Connor, Group Managing Director, Aldi Ireland. of luck to the entire Aldi team.”

Speaking at the official opening, Niall O’Connor, Group Managing Director, Aldi Ireland, said: “This is a hugely exciting move for our National Buying and Marketing teams and reflects our ongoing commitment to partnering with more great Irish food and drink producers. The new facility features our ‘Taste Kitchen’, a state-of-the-art development kitchen where our buying team will be able to create and test new Irish products, helping us maintain our leading position as a retailer of Irish products.”

Aldi also increased their hourly pay rates for store colleagues from February 1, 2022, with store assistants earning up to a market leading €14.90 an hour, while their entry rate of pay will be €12.90 an hour, matching the Living Wage Technical Group’s recommended Living Wage rate.

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Pandemic habits remain in grocery retailing IRISH take-home grocery sales declined by MARKET SHARE - TOTAL GROCERY 4.5% over the 12 weeks to January 23, 2022, Includes expenditure across Food, Beverages, Alcohol, Household and Health & Beauty categories according to the latest figures from Kantar.

However, sales still remain 11.2% higher Total Take Home Grocery - Ireland Consumer Spend than two years ago before the pandemic took % Change % Change 12 Weeks to 24/01/2021 12 Weeks to 23/01/2022 (year on year) (vs 2 years ago)* hold.

“Life is returning to some normality in % % % % Ireland and grocery sales have dropped Total Outlets 100.0% 100.0% -4.5% 11.2% year-on-year as people take the chance to Total Multiples 89.8% 90.8% -3.3% 12.7% eat out in pubs, cafés and restaurants again,” Dunnes 22.6% 23.1% -2.4% 8.6% explains Emer Healy, Senior Retail Analyst Tesco 21.9% 22.1% -3.3% 12.7% at Kantar. “We can see the impact of these SuperValu 22.1% 22.2% -4.3% 13.5% busier social calendars in people’s baskets.

Aldi 11.3% 11.6% -1.3% 13.8% Many consumers have turned to convenience Lidl 11.9% 11.8% -5.4% 18.9%. options as they juggle new routines, with Other Outlets** 10.2% 9.2% -14.7% -2.2% an additional €14.5m spent on chilled * This is provided to give further context to the year-on-year growth figures, which are now comparing convenience this period. On the back of our against the accelerated take-home sales recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic. new-found freedoms, sales of deodorant and ** = Includes stores such as M&S, Boots, Spar, Centra, Greengrocers, Butchers and Cross Border shops Source: Worldpanel FMCG men’s skincare have also soared 3.8% and 6.5% respectively as we aim to look and smell Dry January saw record-breaking engagement in Ireland, our best when seeing friends and family again.” with 7.6% of households purchasing a non-alcoholic beverage, Despite easing restrictions, it’s clear that Covid-19 has an increase of 5.8% since 2018. In contrast, the impact of had a lasting impact on people’s lifestyles and in turn, on the Veganuary was more muted as Irish shoppers spent €481,000 way they shop, with online shopping a beneficiary. “During the less on frozen vegetarian products than this time last year. different lockdowns, many shoppers used delivery services for “Non-alcoholic drinks are enjoying really strong growth the first time and the habit has stuck,” Emer notes. “Online and this looks set to continue following the introduction of grocery sales grew again this month by 3.8%, with consumers Minimum Unit Pricing in Ireland,” Emer says. “Dry January spending €5.4m more than at the same time last year. The gave people the perfect opportunity to explore the different channel also continues to attract new shoppers. options on the supermarket shelves and many traditional “While some familiar routines are returning, it’s not been brands are diversifying their ranges to keep up with the change a straight switch back to the old ways of doing things,” Emer in demand.” continues. “Many of us are now working from home for part of Dunnes retained its position as Ireland’s largest retailer the week and that means we’re less likely to go out for lunch this month, holding 23.1% of the market in the period up to or for a meal after work on those days. As a result, people are January 23, 2022. The retailer benefited from the largest influx buying 13.3% more on each trip to the supermarket than they of new shoppers, who contributed an additional €42.2m to its were in early 2020. There’s also a sense that some people still performance. feel a bit cautious about Covid-19 and not everyone is ready to SuperValu follows closely with a market share of 22.2%, get out just yet.” while Tesco is just 0.1 percentage points behind this at 22.1%.

Household budgets are coming under pressure as grocery Lidl now holds an 11.8% share, with Aldi at 11.6%. price inflation reached its highest level since October 2020 This followed on from a bumper Christmas season for Irish this period at 1.7%. “The number of products being sold on grocery retailers, with sales worth €3.1 billion during the 12 promotion has dropped by 3% compared with last January,” weeks to December 26, 2021, which was down by 5.2% over Emer reveals. “We’re already seeing evidence of people starting the record-breaking festive season in 2020 (but up by 10.9% to shop around at different retailers to try and find the best compared with the same period in 2019). price for their weekly shop.”

Centra to anchor Portmarnock retail centre CENTRA are set to become the anchor tenant for a new retail centre in St Marnock’s Bay in Portmarnock, Co. Dublin. The addition of Centra, in a 3,200 square feet unit fronting onto Station Road, will add a high profile retail amenity to St Marnock’s Bay and its surrounds, which will eventually contain 1,200 homes and a new public park.

“I am very pleased to announce that we have secured a prime retail convenience space at St Marnock’s Bay in Portmarnock,” noted Ian Allen, Managing Director, SuperValu and Centra. “We will be making a significant investment in this store to deliver a brand new, state-ofthe-art Centra for the local community to enjoy. At Centra, we are committed to supporting local communities around the country and this presents a great opportunity for us to join the growing community in Portmarnock. As Ireland’s leading convenience retailer, we look forward to offering our new local customers the high quality products and great

customer service which Centra is known for.”

The retail centre is due for completion in late July with a target opening date in Q3 2022.

The new 3,200 square feet Centra store will serve the new St Marnock’s Bay area in Portmarnock, Co. Dublin.

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New CEO for Tesco Ireland TESCO have announced changes to their management team in the Republic of Ireland. Kari Daniels’ time as Chief Executive, ROI, will come to an end in April, when she will be succeeded by Natasha Adams, currently Chief People Officer, who will report to Group CEO Ken Murphy in a new role on the Tesco Executive Committee.

After a varied and hugely successful career at Tesco, Kari Daniels has decided to take some time out before deciding what to do next. Kari has made a significant contribution to Tesco, both in her role in Ireland and throughout her 20 years with the business, during which she has held several senior commercial and marketing roles in the UK and Europe.

“The Tesco Ireland team have taken the business from strength to strength, navigating through the pandemic and strengthening our value proposition with the recent launch of Aldi Price Match,” noted Ken Murphy, Tesco Group CEO. “The team have grown our ability to serve customers however, wherever and whenever they want to be served, through our market-leading online business and in our 151 stores nationwide. All this and more has helped to drive strong online performance and sales growth on a two-year basis and sustained share growth in the market.

“I’d like to thank Kari for her significant contribution to our business

during her time in Ireland and throughout her 20 years at Tesco,” Ken continued. “Natasha has made an outstanding contribution in her role as Chief People Officer, and her appointment to the new role of Chief Executive Officer, Tesco ROI, recognises the breadth of that contribution. I have no doubt she will bring the same blend of strategic thinking and peoplecentricity as she leads our Irish business into an exciting future.”

Natasha is Irish, was born in Kerry and will re-locate back to Ireland with her family when she takes up her role in April, following a handover with Kari.

Natasha will also sit on the Tesco UK Leadership Team.

These changes come as Tesco look to further expand their business in Ireland. Most recently, Tesco Ireland announced plans to acquire 10 Joyce’s Supermarkets in Galway, pending approval by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).

Tesco Ireland also announced that they have invested €5m and created 60 new jobs with the opening of their new environmentally friendly store at White Pines, Rathfarnham, Dublin, on February 14, which brought the number of Tesco stores in the country to 152.

The neighbourhood supermarket is located at the new White Pines residential development, is fully powered

Tesco’s new store at White Pines, Rathfarnham, Dublin.

Natasha Adams, incoming CEO, Tesco Ireland. and heated by renewable electricity, features 11,000 square feet of shopping space, 60 free car parking spaces for customers, two electric vehicle charging stations which can accommodate up to four cars, as well as bicycle parking.

An Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar TD, said that “This further job creation and investment by Tesco is welcome news, building on its significant employment growth in 2021 and delivering new opportunities for careerdevelopment within the retail sector.”

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Lidl Ireland win European CSR award LIDL Ireland have been awarded a coveted European Excellence Award 2021 for their Corporate Social Responsibility Progress Report which was launched this year. The only winning Irish entry at the high-profile awards underscores the retailer’s commitment to transparent reporting and progress achieved on Lidl’s CSR targets and initiatives from 2019-20.

In August 2021, Lidl launched their third progress report at their inaugural Sustainability Focus Event, the first of its kind hosted by a supermarket retailer in the country, where they outlined progress on their A Better Tomorrow corporate social responsibility strategy. From becoming the owner of the largest array of solar panelling in the country to launching the world’s first dedicated period poverty initiative, ground-breaking compassionate leave workplace initiatives for employees affected by early miscarriage and pregnancy loss to removing millions of plastic bags from circulation, Lidl have delivered exceptional initiatives and programmes to become one of the leading Irish supermarkets for sustainability.

“We are thrilled to see our significant efforts in the field of sustainability being recognised on the global stage at this year’s prestigious awards,” noted Owen Keogh, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Lidl Ireland. “It is a testament to all our colleagues from teams across the business who have delivered innovative initiatives and programmes that have a measurement impact on our environment and the communities we serve.”

As part of the report launch, Lidl also announced their commitment to becoming a carbon neutral business by 2025, as well as a dedicated Supplier Engagement Programme and enabling customers to lower their carbon impact through EV charging points. The retailer also plans to further progress on its targets by committing to a 46% reduction on its operational emissions by 2030.

Appointment at FSAI THE Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) have announced the appointment of Rob Philips as Chief Specialist Environmental Health. Leading on all aspects of environmental health in the FSAI, Rob will advise on food safety and hygiene issues and seek to ensure fair, proportionate, and consistent approaches to food law enforcement. He will represent the FSAI at national, EU and international levels and support the wider Regulatory Affairs and Compliance Building team in the FSAI with issues relating to environmental health, food safety, food hygiene and regulatory affairs.

Additionally, Rob will lead on compliance building, the development of compliance supports and engage with stakeholders to build a culture of food safety within Ireland’s food industry. His work will also see him engage with Government departments, including the Department of Health, as well as the inspectorate in the official agencies and national and international bodies.

Rob Philips, Chief Specialist Environmental Health, FSAI.

Pictured are Owen Keogh, Head of CSR, and JP Scally, CEO, Lidl Ireland.

With over 20 years’ experience overseeing food safety and compliance, Rob has a strong background in environmental health, where he previously held the position of Senior Environmental Health Officer with Pembrokeshire County Council in Wales. In addition, prior to joining the FSAI, he acted as Food Fraud Co-Ordinator in the Welsh Food Fraud Co-Ordination Unit. Rob has also served as a Food Safety Expert on the Welsh Heads of Environmental Health Panel. Prior to taking up this new role, Rob was Audit and Investigations Manager with the FSAI since 2018.

“We are delighted to appoint Rob to this key role in the FSAI, where his environmental health qualifications and experience will bring increased benefits to our regulatory partnership approach, in collaboration with environment health officers throughout the country,” said Dr Pamela Byrne, CEO, FSAI. “Rob will work with relevant Government departments, including the Department of Health, with official agencies and national and international bodies.

Along with other colleagues in the FSAI, he will provide leadership for the FSAI at national, EU and international level in influencing policy and legislation development and contribute to the development and delivery of the FSAI priorities in a range of areas relating to food safety and regulatory affairs.”

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New MD at Fresh FRESH The Good Food Market have announced the appointment of a new Managing Director, David Field. David is currently CEO of the Irish Marketing Institute and will take up his new role at Fresh in March 2022, when Noel Smith, founder and Managing Director at Fresh, will assume the position of Group CEO. David has a broad and extensive experience within the retail sector, and has previously served as Commercial Trading Director at Eason, Marketing Director for Brown Thomas, and Head of Marketing and Retail Development for Eason. Prior to that, he held commercial and marketing positions with leading businesses such as Glanbia, Superquinn and previously at Fresh.

“We are fortunate to have someone of David’s calibre join as our new Managing Director,” noted Noel Smith. “His commercial, retail and marketing experience, along with his leadership skills and understanding of the Fresh brand, will be of great value to our business. I look forward to working with him in meeting our corporate strategic goals as we take advantage of the market opportunities ahead.”

David Field said: “I am really excited by the opportunity of working with Noel and the management team, who have been constant leaders in delivering award-winning innovation

David Field, incoming Managing Director at Fresh The Good Food Market.

in the retail sector. As a long-time admirer of the brand, I am delighted to be joining the group and I look forward to delivering on its strategic business goals and driving further growth in the market place together with the team.”

Linked Finance launch open banking service

Niall O’Grady, CEO of Linked Finance.

LINKED Finance, a leading peer-to-peer (P2P) digital lending platform, have launched a new ‘Open Banking’ platform service for Irish SMEs who need fast, secure and efficient access to finance to drive business growth as the economy reopens.

The addition of open banking to the application process will allow Irish SMEs to share their bank account information and transaction data with Linked Finance in a fast, secure and efficient manner. The move reduces barriers to finance and allows Linked Finance to carry out the necessary credit evaluations to determine the eligibility to receive loans.

As part of the EU regulation, Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2), open banking was introduced in an effort to increase competition and choice for businesses, as well as consumers.

Linked Finance’s open banking service is one part of the platform’s wider efforts to support homegrown SMEs as they continue to trade and recover from the huge challenges they have faced through the pandemic.

“We are delighted to announce the introduction of our open banking capabilities as a means of creating an easy application method for businesses looking to access finance fast and efficiently in a seamless online process,” noted Niall O’Grady, CEO of Linked Finance. For more information, visit www.linkedfinance.com.

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Industry News GAA star launches Tesco Stronger Starts programme DUBLIN GAA legend Philly McMahon teamed up with Tesco to announce a new pilot programme that will provide thousands of meals to feed children and families across Ireland. Stronger Starts, in partnership with the Good Grub Initiative, will provide 1,000 families per week with free nutritious food packages containing potatoes, carrots, onions and apples, to support them in preparing healthy meals at home. “I’m delighted to support Tesco on this initiative to give back to local communities all over Ireland. I’ve seen firsthand how giving children and their families a strong start can make a positive difference in their lives and the lives of others,” noted Philly, pictured with Kari Daniels, CEO, Tesco Ireland; and founders of The Good Grub Initiative, Denis O’Reilly and David Kelly.

Keohane Seafoods ride the wave of success LIDL Ireland have announced a new multimillion-euro deal with Cork-based seafood company Keohane Seafoods, valued at more than €20m. This new deal will bring their fresh and frozen Irish seafood products to Lidl stores across the island of Ireland, in addition to an increase of exports to selected Lidl stores in Great Britain, USA, Germany, Cyprus, Italy and Greece, making them Lidl Ireland’s largest fish supplier. Pictured are (l-r): Mike Keohane, Colman Keohane and Brian Keohane, Directors of Keohane Seafoods.

Aldi unveil new Killarney store ALDI have opened a new store in Killarney, Co. Kerry, creating seven permanent jobs in the local area. Located on Park Road, the new €8m store replaces the store at Ardshanavooly, a short distance away, which closed on January 10 after 14 years. The new single-storey supermarket includes an off-licence as well as two smaller retail outlets, and comes after a study of shoppers living or working in Killarney by leading independent market research agency Behaviour & Attitudes revealed that 90% of shoppers agreed that a bigger Aldi store would be good for Killarney. The store has been designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible, featuring free to use electric car charging points and being powered by 100% green electricity. Store Manager Patrick Lawlor is pictured with staff at the opening of the new store.

Fresh joins fight against food waste ONE of the world’s leading anti-food waste apps, Too Good To Go, and Fresh The Good Food Market have announced their joint partnership in the fight against food waste. The partnership means that all eight Fresh stores are now signed up to the Too Good To Go app so that surplus food is eaten and enjoyed rather than wasted. Leading the food waste movement, Too Good To Go lets people buy surplus food and drink from restaurants, grocery stores, pubs, cafes and producers to stop it from going to waste. Consumers can simply download the free Too Good To Go app and search for their nearby Fresh with unsold food. They then purchase a ‘Surprise Bag’, collect it at an allotted time and enjoy it. Pictured are Austin McGinley, Brand & Development, Fresh, and Patrick McKinney, Key Account Manager, Too Good To Go.

Italian sweets manufacturer receives top prize at ISM LUIGI Zàini, CEO of the medium-sized Italian sweets company, Luigi Zàini SpA, was the winner of this year’s ISM Award. The largest and most important trade fair for sweets and snacks worldwide conferred this prize on the executive director of an Italian sweets company for his exceptional services to the sweets and snacks industry. Luigi Zàini SpA produces and sells cocoa and sugar-based products across the whole of Italy and exports to over 80 countries worldwide.

Describing himself as “thrilled” at receiving the award, be paid tribute to his staff: “My thoughts go immediately to all of the people who have been working for Zàini for generations and who together with our business partners have significantly contributed towards the company’s success story.” ISM took place in Cologne from January 30 to February 2. For more information, visit www.ism-cologne.com.

UK/ROI 18+. 04/01/22 10:00 - 23/03/22 16:59. Visit winaday.cadburyfc.com for full T&Cs. Purchase necessary (NPN for NI & ROI). Prizes subject to clubs and/or COVID-19 guidance. *Meet and greet selection at the discretion of Promoter and can be either a legend or current player.

10|Retail News|February 2022|www.retailnews.ie

Industry News Lucozade Sport gets a new look Lucozade Sport has announced the release of its new look bottle to the Irish market, featuring an all-new half-sleeve design. The new design means it’s easier for recycling facilities to process the bottle into fresh bottles, and Lucozade Sport has committed to ensuring its bottles are made from 100% recycled plastic, commencing this year. The move will save significant amounts of virgin PET annually. The new bottle was launched in line with Lucozade Sport’s IRFU partnership ahead of this year’s Six Nations Championship. Ireland rugby internationals Robbie Henshaw (right), Craig Casey (centre) and Rob Herring (left) are pictured with Lucozade Sport’s new fully recyclable bottle.

Joyce’s Supermarkets launch healthy school lunchbox initiative

GALWAY-based Joyce’s Supermarkets have launched a new campaign to promote healthy eating options aimed at schoolchildren aged 4-12 years old and their parents. As many families opt to re-examine their lifestyle and food choices in January, Joyce’s are aiming to highlight healthy options for children’s school lunches. The campaign kicked off with QR codes on display in 10 Joyce’s stores across Galway, which will provide shoppers with a link to download a healthy recipe book for their kids. Joyce’s Supermarkets are also promoting healthy and easy to make lunchbox ideas on their social media channels and highlighting in-store savings and offers on everyday products.

Spar FAI Primary School 5s Programme opens Republic of Ireland women’s footballer Louise Quinn and former Republic of Ireland footballer and current U17 coach David Meyler are pictured with Colin Donnelly, Spar Sales Director, at the launch of the Spar FAI Primary School 5s Programme for 2022. The fun five-a-side football programme for boys and girls in 4th, 5th and 6th class has grown year-on-year and is now the largest grassroots football programme of its kind in Ireland, with over 40,000 participants each year. To ensure the safety of students and teachers, the 2022 Spar FAI Primary School 5s Programme has been designed to run within schools, with teachers being provided with all the necessary support to host their very own 5-a-side tournament, including video training tips, score sheets and more. “We are extremely proud to be involved with the Spar FAI Primary School 5s Programme since 2015,” said Colin Donnelly, who noted how “the programme encourages children to get involved in sport and develop a love for football and physical activity and perfectly complements our Spar Better Choices campaign”. For more information, visit www.fai.ie/SparPrimarySchool5s.

New Mace campaign highlights the Right Options with Irish sports stars TO celebrate the launch of its 2022 Mace Right Options campaign, Mace is offering five lucky shoppers the opportunity to win a home gym voucher to the value of €300. This year, Mace has joined forces with Brand Ambassador, Johnny Sexton, to promote healthy eating and exercise among customers as well as encouraging them to choose the Right Options when shopping in their local Mace store. Mace is launching a new series of videos featuring Mace Ambassador, Johnny Sexton, called ‘A Walk with Johnny’, which is accompanied by an in-store and social media campaign with prizes of home gym equipment up for grabs for five lucky customers. The four-part series sees Johnny chatting to another elite athlete at the top of her game, Meath Ladies Gaelic Footballer Vikki Wall, about healthy living, staying active, healthy eating, and goal setting.

Verve|Showrunner wins Tayto business for summer campaign Verve|Showrunner, the Culture & Entertainment arm of Verve, have picked up the Tayto account for their 2022 summer campaign. This followed a competitive pitch, with the brief focused on engaging the brand with a new demographic. “Working with an iconic and intrinsically Irish brand like Tayto is a really exciting challenge to take on. As a company, Tayto shares our ambition, vision and love of creative work, so we’re looking forward to the collaborative process,” noted Sam Moorhead, Creative Partner in Verve|Showrunner, pictured (second from right), with Verve founder Ronan Traynor (left), Mikey Fleming and Jane Gray.

Grow your business using the power of loyalty Attract and retain the best customers with loyalBe, the must-have loyalty platform.

It works with secure bank-linking technology, allowing your customers to earn rewards simply by using their debit card when they sign up to loyalBe. But don’t just take our word for it…

“It’s a fantastic way to know your customers and give something back to those who support our business on a regular basis. The loyalBe app was so easy to set up, taking just 15 minutes.

It has come at an ideal time for retailers.”

Sinead Gargan Store Manager at Kilkenny Design Centre, Kilkenny

“We’ve been using loyalBe for a while now and I have to say it’s transformed how we reward our customers.

Previously we were limited to a paper coffee loyalty card with no flexibility in what was rewarded or what the return rate was, and now we’re able to reward the entirety of our customers’ spend across the range generating a better response to and from the customer.

It gives us a better chance at competing with the bigger companies with huge resources. I’d happily recommend loyalBe.” Paul Glover MD at Arthur’s Coffee, Belfast

Find out more at loyalbe.io/visa

12|Retail News|February 2022|www.retailnews.ie

Industry News Kellie Harrington launches Spar Better Choices 2022 OLYMPIC gold medallist and Spar ambassador Kellie Harrington, who has risen to the top of her game by making better choices day after day, helped launch Spar’s Better Choices 2022 campaign, with a wide range of healthy choices available now in Spar stores nationwide. Spar carried out research which found that 98% of Irish people plan to make better choices when it comes to looking after themselves in 2022. The main reason for wanting to make better choices was to improve overall health and quality of life, with 44% saying they will prioritise making changes to their diet and eating habits, while a further 44% plan to increase physical activity levels and 12% say they will prioritise their mental health. The better choices that people intend to make this year include, exercising more (73%), eating less treats and snacks (61%), eating more fresh food (54%) and eating more fruit and vegetables (53%).

Aldi launch Community Grants programme ALDI will distribute more than 150 €500 bursary grants through their Community Grants programme this year to local charities and community organisations that contribute vital work and services and make a real difference in their local communities. Staff from each of Aldi’s stores, their two distribution centres and corporate offices will select a charity or community organisation in its local area to award the bursary to, enabling Aldi’s staff to help the local good causes they care about. Pictured at the launch of Aldi’s 2022 Community Grants programme are Padraig Barry, Communications Director with Aldi Ireland, Tina Boyle and Chico, Cavan SPCA, Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development, and Rhiannon McClelland, SOSAD Monaghan. Cavan SPCA and SOSAD Monaghan were two of the many beneficiaries of last year’s Community Grants programme.

ProWein postponed to early summer THE organisers of the ProWein trade show, Messe Düsseldorf, have taken the decision to postpone the event from late March until May 15-17, 2022, due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.

“The tenor among our exhibitors is: We want and need ProWein – but at a point in time that promises the biggest prospects of success,” noted Wolfram Diener, CEO of Messe Düsseldorf. “Together with the partners and associations involved, we regard early summer as the ideal period for this. We not only expect infection patterns to calm down but also more people to be able to enter the country and take part. This means exhibiting companies as well as visitors can do their business in an environment that is clearly less affected by Covid-19.” For more information, visit www.prowein.com.

Enniscorthy newsagents sells Lotto Plus 1 top prize ticket

LORRAINE Doran and Joe Byrne of Delaney’s Newsagents in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, are pictured celebrated after it was announced that their store sold the top prize winning ticket worth €1m in the Lotto Plus 1 draw on February 5.

The winning Quick Pick ticket was purchased on the day of the draw at Delaney’s Newsagents on Rafter Street in Enniscorthy.

Glenisk Bios are back in town GLENISK have resumed yogurt production, four months after a fire destroyed their premises outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. Ireland’s top selling yogurt brand prior to the fire, the business manufactured over one hundred yogurt lines. The newly built production facility is labelled Plan B, enabling Glenisk to get restarted with core yogurt lines. The company is now focused on the development of Plan A, an entirely new carbon-neutral facility with additional capacity to support the company’s growth into the future. The company has continued to pay its workforce throughout the closure and continued to collect milk from the 50 family farms who supply organic cows’ milk and goats’ milk.

Commercial Director, Emma Walls, said: “We have a fantastic, skilled and dedicated workforce at Glenisk. We are also fortunate to partner with sustainable, innovative farmers. Both were central to our success, and both are central to our recovery.” Glenisk have also hailed the support of retail partners, who have backed the brand’s return and got behind the business.

Pringles

Spice Things Up Pringles have launched two new hot additions to their Sizzl’N range, as medium Sweet Chilli and hot Spicy Chorizo flavours hit shelves across Ireland: are you ready to step up to the spice?

Aiming to push snack fans’ tastebuds to the limit, the new piquant pair join Pringles’ Sizzl’N range, which includes Kickin’ Sour Cream (medium) and Cheese & Chilli (Extra Hot).

All flavours in the Sizzl’N range build in spice with every bite, bringing snackers on a flavour journey. The new flavours are available now in all major retailers.

The delicious Spicy Chorizo flavour boasts BBQ notes surrounded by a rich cured meat taste, slightly smoked paprika, and a hint of herbs.

The slightly milder Sweet Chilli has a spicy and aromatic flavour, made from a blend of fragrant spices, chilli and sweet notes delivering a multisensorial experience.

“Our Sizzl’N range last year excited spice seekers across the country and we’re delighted to add two new delicious flavours to the range,” noted Neil Rogers, Brand and Activation Manager at Kellogg’s Ireland. “We know that people are exploring more adventurous flavours and we can’t wait to see how many Pringles fans can step up and taste the new sizzling flavours.”

Both the Sweet Chilli flavour and hot Spicy Chorizo flavour will be available in supermarkets across Ireland this February, priced at €3.25 (RRP).

To find out more about the new flavours or the Sizzl’n range, visit www.pringles.com/ie.

!

NE W DATE

LET’S REUNITE FOR BUSINESS. Düsseldorf, Germany 15-17 May 2022

Ge t yo u r ow ! e-Tickets n

THE WORLD’S NO. 1 International Trade Fair for Wines and Spirits We are back!

The uniquely global meeting place for the wine and spirits industry awaits you with a new hall concept and hygiene measures. Experience the new vintages and current trend themes from all over the world with us in Düsseldorf – in the usual professional atmosphere.

www.prowein.com

Trend Show for craft drinks in its own Hall 7.0

German-Irish Chamber of Industry and Commerce 5 Fitzwilliam Street Upper _ Dublin 2 _ Ireland Tel. +353 (1)64 24 300 mary.levey@german-irish.ie

www.german-irish.ie

14|Retail News|February 2022|www.retailnews.ie

Retail News Interview

Facing the challenges ahead Independent retailers are exhausted after a difficult two years, and the raft of new legislation being mooted is not helping their stress levels, according to RGDATA Director General Tara Buckley.

IRELAND’S independent retailers have consistently delivered top class service in adversity over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, and now their ‘reward’ appears to be a raft of new legislation that is going to place additional stress on already beleaguered store owners and an extra squeeze on already tight margins.

“Whenever I take the temperature of the trade, they’re generally a very optimistic bunch, always looking forward and thinking what their next move is,” reveals RGDATA Director General, Tara Buckley. “Heading into 2022, I can sense that there is a stress there that is a result of the last two years, particularly amongst the owners of a single store, which a lot of our members are; they’re the ones getting up to do the 5am shift to organise the newspapers, and they’re also the ones up late at night doing the regulatory stuff. They have been putting very long hours in, without a break, for two years, and they are very stressed about the proposals that are on the table in lots of areas, like sick pay, mandatory pensions, the Deposit/ Return scheme, new measures on sustainability, parental leave.

All of these things are preying on them because they are very concerned about the rising costs of running a single shop.”

It has been well documented that Ireland’s grocery retailers really stood up to be counted during the pandemic. “You could say they pioneered a lot of the health and safety practices,” Buckley notes. “A lot of our members were the first to look at how to manage a shop during Covid, from queuing systems to floor-signs, Perspex screens, PPE for staff, hand sanitiser at the door. They had to adapt their businesses with very little notice or guidance. They showed very clearly the unique abilities of local, independent shops that are rooted in their communities.”

The Irish public in turn was reminded of the importance of local shops. “There is no doubt that Irish people felt that those local, family-owned stores were the safest places to go,” the Director General opines. “I have members all over the country who got new customers during the pandemic because people felt their shops were safe and maybe they weren’t so happy going into big multiples. So it was an opportunity for the independent sector to show its abilities to adapt, under terrible circumstances.”

Covid-19 also meant most grocery retailers lost the higher margin categories of their store, particularly in the foodservice sector. “The deli counter, the ice cream; these were the parts of the business that had to close down. Now, these areas are challenged because of staff shortages and the difficulty in recruiting new staff,” Buckley reveals. “Dry groceries are not the area where you are going to make money in this marketplace.”

The pandemic hasn’t effected all stores equally, with shops whose customer base included large numbers of students or office workers particularly hard hit. “Retailers in busy urban areas, those beside universities and schools, or beside large office parks, their footfall just died away,” Buckley explains.

“Overnight, their business changed from being a busy food-togo store to selling some dry groceries to a few local residents, but the reality is they were losing money to remain open and provide that service. Footfall still hasn’t come back for those stores, so that remains a huge challenge.”

For others, local supermarkets in particular, footfall was up and the RGDATA chief believes that independent store owners in particular will do everything in their power to keep

Retail News|February 2022|www.retailnews.ie|15

Retail News Interview Ireland’s retailers really stood up and were counted during the last two years.

those customers into the future: “You can never sit still and pat yourself on the back as an independent retailer; you have to constantly think about how you are going to drive more customers to your business, to keep those customers and to make your business as efficient as it can be so you are not a busy fool, ensuring that you can make money from your business.”

The last two years, between the pandemic and Brexit, have had another unforeseen effect on grocery retailers.

While there are price increases in some groceries, the biggest changes have been in building materials, which is causing concern for those retailers considering revamping or extending their stores.

“Brexit has had a big impact on the cost of building materials, which has been a big challenge, particularly for people who were mid-way through projects and suddenly had huge cost increases to negotiate, or those contemplating projects where their budget suddenly soared,” Buckley explains. “When you’re operating in a very tight margin business, it is very

frustrating to suddenly see costs hike by 50 or 60 percent in a matter of weeks.”

Costly legislative changes Any price hikes will ultimately impact a retailer’s bottom line, and in a business where margins are already extremely tight, constantly increasing the cost of doing business will prove ultimately untenable. There are a lot of legislative changes potentially in the pipeline that will impact further on retail costs, including legislation on sick pay and mandatory pension enrolment.

“All of these changes need to be looked at in their entirety to assess the impact they are going to have,” Buckley insists. “You need the voice of smaller businesses to be right up there at the top table when these proposals and the way in which they are going to be applied is discussed.”

She believes that policy in this country is often “designed for large multinationals and the public service rather than for a small business with one owner and a small group of employees”.

Another problem is the drip-feed of

legislation, with a number of separate bills impacting the trade. “A business needs regulation to be joined up in its entirety so that its impact will be understood,” she argues. “With all of the different policies and proposals on the table at the moment, our members are very concerned about the impact these will have on their costs.”

Buckley estimates that the cost of proposed legislation on sick pay, which will introduce 10 days per annum of statutory sick pay, to be phased in over a four-year period, could be as much as €60,000 per year for a convenience store and twice that for a supermarket.

“These are huge costs, equating to a few extra members of staff who could have jobs on the shop floor,” she argues. “You can’t magic that money out of thin air; the money comes out of what you sell in the store and the margin you make on that.

The reality is if the cost of employment goes up by that much, this is going to be extremely challenging.”

Using technology to cut costs The end result will be the opposite of job creation, with at best stagnation and in some cases, people not being replaced or worse, job losses. Retailers are already looking at the opportunity to replace human staff with technology.

“There is no doubt that this sector is looking at how you can do things more efficiently with less people, with Artificial Intelligence playing a part in that,” Buckley admits. “The reality then is that you are pushing towards less jobs in the sector. The independent sector’s model has been based around fantastic service, being a hub of the community and often the place you come to chat to someone. That has been very successful for us. But it is important that when we make changes, we consider the smaller employers and make sure they are made in a way that doesn’t put them in a position where they are so out of kilter in terms of costs that it is starting to make their model look like it doesn’t have a future.”

The Irish grocery market’s ultracompetitive nature means that even though the independent sector’s USPs have always been “about top quality, great service, local food”, an independent retailer has to remain competitive on price as well: “You cannot be out of sync with the prices in the marketplace,” Buckley insists. “Margins are very fine, so finding a way to pay these increased costs of regulation etc. without passing those costs on to the consumer is the big challenge.”

The costs of doing business here

16|Retail News|February 2022|www.retailnews.ie

Retail News Interview Grocery retailers were at the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic and indeed pioneered many of the practices we take for granted today.

are already very high compared to many of our European neighbours. The most significant cost any retailer has is their labour costs. “Your traditional independent supermarket could employ up to 120 people in one store, and is competing with a model that employs 15 people, so any changes to the cost of employment have a significant impact on the independent grocery sector,” Buckley argues.

“

The staffing challenge However, when it comes to staff, the biggest challenge is not the cost of employment but finding and retaining staff in the first place.

“It is a huge challenge at the moment,” the Director General agrees. “There is no doubt that there has been wage inflation, both to hold onto staff and to try to attract new staff to stores.”

RGDATA has just completed its submission to the Commission on Taxation and Welfare, which included a key recommendation that the Government introduce incentives for partworkers.

“All of the local retailers we represent have a core of full-time employees, who are very loyal and have worked very hard over the last two years. But they also need and rely on a steady stream of part-time workers and students who would fill in the extra hours required to run a busy supermarket or convenience store.

That has been a significant challenge, trying to recruit new, young part-timers.”

RGDATA is urging the Commission to “look at the tax treatment of people earning between €18k and €22k, so that

the vast majority of what they are paid is going into their pocket.

ISME have done a lot of work in this area, looking at the breakoff point where it becomes less attractive to work because of taxation.”

“These are not low-paid workers, but they are workers who want to do part-time work,” Buckley insists. “Perhaps they are students who want to work at the weekends or those in caring or parental roles who want to work a few mornings a week.

They don’t want 40 hours a week but they want a part-time job

You can’t magic money out of thin air; the money comes out of what you sell in the store and the margin you make on that. The reality is if the cost of employment goes up by that much, this is going to be extremely challenging.

”

that allows them to earn some money and we are saying to the Commission to make sure there is enough incentive there to keep those part-time staff because they are very important to our trade.”

Other areas where RGDATA is seeking Government action include energy costs which are rising at “unsustainable levels, with some members seeing increases of 40% in the last year

Retail News|February 2022|www.retailnews.ie|17

Retail News Interview business owners, shoppers and visitors, you will quickly find out what they like, what they don’t like, what they would like to see in the town; why they do things the way they currently do them and what would make them change,” Buckley explains. “When you have all that information and have mapped out the town to see where derelict sites are, where the brownfield sites are, then you can make a plan to really deliver a vibrant town centre. The towns that are approaching it in this methodical way are really starting to see the benefits.”

She points out that there is funding available from the EU and under various Government schemes, but “if that funding isn’t spent in a way that is based on evidence and data, driven by a strategic approach, it very often gets wasted.”

Independent retailers are worried that increased costs will have to be passed on Another issue which hasn’t gone to customers in what is already a business of tight margins. away is the cost of insurance, with Buckley insisting that RGDATA members are still seeing increases in the cost of their premiums, despite all the hard work that has alone”, and commercial rates, which they believe needs a gone into reform of the sector which has seen compensation complete review. “The reality is that our rates system needs an payments fall significantly. “Our focus is on Government not overhaul to make it fairer, because it is so important for town just to implement reforms but to ensure that cost savings are centres to have an independent grocer at their heart, so it’s passed on to policy holders,” she sighs. “We managed to push important that those shops are allowed to survive and thrive. through quite a lot of significant reforms but we are not seeing They shouldn’t be penalised because they are town centre bricks and mortar shops, as they are vital for vibrant towns and villages throughout Ireland.”

She stresses the value of independent supermarkets to the fabric of Irish life, citing the example of “fantastic family businesses like Field’s in Skibereen or Scally’s in Clonakilty, who are invested in their local community and vital to the vibrancy of the towns”. In fact, the RGDATA chief believes that “having an independent grocery in your town centre gives that town centre a chance of surviving into the future.”

Town centre regeneration The whole issue of town centre regeneration is one where RGDATA have been particularly vocal, with the Director General welcoming the Government’s Town Centre First policy, which was finally launched on February 4.

“RGDATA fought hard for a Town Centre First Policy and has been an active advocate for Government to take this issue seriously,” Buckley notes. “We welcome this new Policy and the initiatives announced by the Government and hope that they will be effective in halting the decline in so many of our towns and villages.”

While the Policy stopped short of RGDATA’s calls for a “national standalone agency” to deliver the expertise required for town centre regeneration across the country, the Director General believes it provides an opportunity for local authorities’ to adopt a new approach to the management and regeneration of town centres: “This is an opportunity for local authorities to make amends and demonstrate, through collaboration with town centre interests, in particular local businesses, that a bright future can be secured for Irish towns and villages.”

Buckley believes that for the Policy to be successful and achieve its objectives, it needs to be “genuinely collaborative and actively involve all town centre interests”.

“If you do a proper survey of townspeople, including

Ireland’s town centres have some of the highest vacancy rates in Europe, with many buildings empty and boarded up.

18|Retail News|February 2022|www.retailnews.ie

Retail News Interview

The pandemic hasn’t effected all stores equally, with shops whose customer base included large numbers of students or office workers particularly hard hit. a significant drop in premiums, but we will keep pushing and pressing on that.”

Retail crime RGDATA has also made its voice heard on the issue of crime against retailers in recent years, covering everything from shoplifting to threatening and abusive behaviour towards store owners and staff, which increased during the pandemic with the proliferation of aggressive anti-mask wearers.

“It was a small number of very angry people but they really created stress for staff and other customers,” Buckley says.

RGDATA raised the issue with the Legal Services Regulatory Authority, referencing “some of the people who were drumming up this type of anti-social behaviour”, as well as in direct meetings with Ministers. “We wanted to make the Government understand what the reality was like for people on the shopfloor during lockdown, when we were one of the few sectors open, and we tried to explain to other businesses that they were going to face into this. You have to make sure your staff

are trained to deal with this type of difficult customer, which shouldn’t really be what we are worrying about in the middle of a pandemic.”

RGDATA works with the Gardaí via the Rural Safety Forum and the Strategic Retail Forum and the Director General believes that “there is no doubt that the Guards have listened are trying to progress tackling retail crime”. GDPR legislation has proved a real challenge in terms of information sharing but Buckley is confident that progress is being made, with retail organisations and Gardaí “looking at a system that has been quite successful in Belfast at combatting serial shoplifting.

We are working with the Guards to see how we can operate something similar in the Republic of Ireland, but progress has been a little slow as we work through all the legalities of doing that.”

The pandemic meant they had to cancel National Community Engagement Day with local Gardaí, where RGDATA members host coffee mornings in their stores, inviting customers in to meet the local Community Garda. “We will progress this initiative once the Covid rules relax as it was an important way of creating a link in the local community to bring people together to deal with issues around crime,” Buckley reveals.

Looking ahead Economist Jim Power is currently finalising the Local Heroes 3 Report for RGDATA on the impact of local independent supermarkets and convenience stores on their local communities, which should be launched within the coming weeks.

“We are focusing and highlighting the key issues for 2022.

We are looking at the cost of doing business here, the cost of employment and the challenges of recreating vibrant town and village centres, which are the three biggest areas for our members,” sums up Buckley. “Our members are recognised worldwide as international leaders when it comes to food retailing and convenience retailing, running brilliant shops that customers want to shop in. We want to make sure their voice is heard loud and clear at various debates on issues like sick pay, mandatory pensions and other changes to employment legislation, taxation and welfare legislation, sustainability, the circular economy and the Town Centre First programme.

“There are always challenges in this business,” she admits.

“It is about how we deal with them and how we manage them.”

There are a number of legislative proposals on the table which will have a big effect on the retail trade.

Retail News|February 2022|www.retailnews.ie|19

East Coast Bakehouse

New Irish protein cookie brand launches In the Zone is an exciting new Irish protein cookie brand from East Coast Bakehouse, which is endorsed by the GAA and GPA. EAST Coast Bakehouse have announced the launch of a new Irish protein brand called In the Zone, created in partnership with the GAA and GPA as The Official Players’ Choice.

The new range is comprised of four tasty variants, two high protein, low sugar cookies – Soft Bake Double Chocolate flavour and Soft Bake Cookies & Cream flavour, both with 20g of protein – as well as two high protein biscuits with 10g of protein: Crunchy Double Chocolate flavour and Crunchy Salted Caramel flavour.

The range is designed to target health conscious consumers who don’t want to compromise on great taste.

Made in Ireland “We are incredibly excited to launch a new Irish protein brand In the Zone, and we are proud to launch it with the endorsement of the GAA and GPA,” commented Sean Murphy, Managing Director of East Coast Bakehouse. “It is no secret that there is continued growing demand for high protein snacking options, but the majority of these protein snacks are imported into Ireland.

“We are confident that there is a significant opportunity for Irish retailers to support a great tasting Irish protein brand, with product proudly made in Ireland,” he continued.

“We’ve had a fantastic consumer response already, and we look forward to building momentum with a strong consumer launch plan to drive brand awareness and product trial.”

In the Zone plans to get into the heart of the GAA community through launching an Ambassadors Club, bringing players on board at all levels across the country to support the launch. The brand is also looking to support players through employment opportunities.

Positive impact on GAA players GPA CEO Tom Parsons said, “Nutrition plays a key role in the preparation and recovery from training and matches for intercounty players. That is why we are delighted to establish this partnership with East Coast Bakehouse as the In the Zone range allows players a convenient and tasty way to top up on their protein.

“I would like to thank Sean and the team on behalf of intercounty players for their support. The funding generated by this partnership will have a direct positive impact on their lives.”

The In the Zone launch follows a strong pipeline of innovation from East Coast Bakehouse, building on the success of their Enrobed range and Vegan range launched last year.

In the Zone is available nationwide in Supervalu and Centra stores now (RSP €2.50). For distribution, please contact hello@eastcoastbakehouse.com

The In the Zone range includes two high protein, low sugar cookies, both with 20g of protein, and two high protein biscuits with 10g of protein.

20|Retail News|February 2022|www.retailnews.ie

Top Trends for 2022

What’s hot for 2022?

Kerry Group has identified six key taste trends that will shape food and beverage innovation and product launches in 2022, as consumers seek to balance sustainability and health, with a desire for surprise and novel adventures.

KERRY Group, one of the world’s leading taste and nutrition companies, has identified six key trends that are set to shape the food and beverages we see in 2022. While the underlying drivers that influence consumers associations with taste remain the same – comfort, health, and nostalgia – their insatiable appetite for something new means food and beverage businesses will be facing increased demand, and creative freedom, to innovate and bring new products to market.

Now more than a decade old, Kerry’s Taste Charts represent the company’s annual review of the food and beverage landscape, utilising sales performance, consumer trends, foodservice influences and internal culinary and mixology expertise to predict tastes for the coming year. In 2021, the Taste Charts correctly predicted that Covid-19 would lead to traditional tastes undergoing a popular resurgence as people sought comfort in their food and beverages.

Consumers driving change “Consumers remain the driving force behind a lot of the food and beverage innovation that will shape the industry in 2022,” revealed Soumya Nair, Global Consumer Research and Insights Director at Kerry. “There is no doubt that consumers will be seeking surprise and

novelty in their food and drink choices.

We are also witnessing an even greater consumer desire for sustainability, to ensure that what they eat and drink is not only tasty but better for the people and better for the planet.”

According to Kerry, the top six taste

trends to watch for in 2022 are: 1.

Conventional surprises Challenging the norm, this is consumers’ desire to seek comfort in food but with an added element of surprise from their classic favourites.

Kerry’s Taste Charts use sales performance, consumer trends, foodservice influences and internal culinary and mixology expertise to predict tastes for the coming year.

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Top Trends for 2022 5. taking an active role in their future health. But taste remains at the core of consumption desire and people now want the best of both worlds, including sugar free, lower carb, plant-based, vegan and diet-specific foods like keto, to also be tasty and they are not willing to compromise on taste any longer.

When consumers want collagen and nootropics and adaptogens from their food and beverages that help them achieve their health goals, they also want those same indulgent, nostalgic and comfort flavours that they so crave when it comes to taste.

Botanicals such as sage, rosemary, lavender, and citrus blossoms are set to be very popular in combination with classic flavours, as consumers seek taste-forward flavours that also help them achieve certain functional health goals – in this case emotional wellness.

6.

Think beyond beverages, but across salty and sweet food alike across the globe.

Provenance with a conscience More than 50% of consumers focus on, and prioritise, sustainability in food and beverages. Building on the traction seen previously, expect to see an increased focus on flavours and ingredients that have transparent origins, are sustainably sourced and are ethically processed. These ingredients are gaining prominence as consumers begin to understand the subtle taste differences of regionally and seasonally derived products that impact their community, their environment, and the planet.

Consumers still want to enjoy chocolate and extracts like vanilla but want to know how they are sourced, where they are sourced from, and the community-aid provided in the process of sourcing.

Over-the top-indulgence This trend comes from a pure place of crave-ability as consumers desire

Sustainability remains a key consumer concern for 2022, driving trends across the food and drink sector, as consumers actively seek out products whose environmental credentials are transparent.

For instance, the global favourite chocolate milkshake would gain added appeal with surprise flavours such as lavender.

2.

3.

License to thrill This calls to attention the deep desire of consumers to want to explore and satiate their sense of adventure with food. Where life has lacked spontaneity due to Covid-19, consumers are now turning to their plates or palette for the thrill. For instance, traditional hot chocolate would appear in different formats and applications, such as a hot chocolate cookie sandwich or a hot chocolate enrobed potato crisp. License to thrill also rings true for international flavours that consumers want to experience closer to home, or in their own kitchens, such as zaatar, Aleppo pepper, or Sakura, Japanese cherry blossom.

Tasty, but healthy Driven by consumers’ desire to be healthy, and with an increasing focus on probiotic health, gut health and immune support, consumers are looking for health-forward (beyond a health halo) food and beverages that make them feel like they are

Consumers want to treat themselves with over-the-top indulgence in 2022.

4.

Authentic memories While many thought that they would never long for school lunches again, there is a desire to evoke childhood memories and traditions or long-lost moments from the past. Consumers want to be transported back in time, with the comfort and indulgence that comes from the authentic flavours and ingredients that tell these stories. Flavours like custard, breakfast cereal, sultana and fudge are on the rise in the sweet category as consumers return to old favourites.

indulgence from everyday snacks and sweets, during socially-heightened occasions or when celebrating special moments. This could be a double chocolate fudge brownie shake or an expensive cheesecake delivered home from their favourite Michelin star restaurant. Flavours that invoke a deep sense of indulgence typically come from chocolates, caramel, sweet forward flavours, but we also see that indulgence coming from craving meals ordered from a favourite restaurant that they couldn’t visit mid-pandemic.

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Easter Treats

Egg - citing Times

Irish consumers love Easter, as it allows us to indulge our inner chocolate lover.

EASTER is big business for Irish retailers, as consumers stock up on a host of chocolate delights for the occasion, both for gifting and for indulging themselves.

2021 saw Ireland celebrating our second Easter in lockdown, and shoppers really splashed out to try to make the occasion special, with figures from Kantar revealing that sales of chocolate eggs shot up by 17.4% compared with 2020, while sales of premium eggs rose by 21.7%.

Shoppers are buying more eggs than ever before, with plenty of Irish consumers complaining last year that shops had sold out of eggs long before Easter Sunday, so the advice is to stock up early as consumers will be keen to purchase.

Lir Chocolates Leading Irish chocolatiers and Origin Green gold member, Lir Chocolates have a wide variety of delicious Easter treats for 2022, all proudly made in Co. Meath since 1987. This Easter is especially exciting for Lir Chocolates as they introduce a new flavour and egg to the Irish market, the Lir Nutty Egg. This deliciously eye-catching Belgian chocolate egg is completely covered in chopped nuts and cocoa nibs, while it also includes hazelnut praline centred truffles.

The Lir Easter range has something for every chocolate lover, with their wide selection of chocolate flavours and products; White Chocolate Egg (155g, €8 RRP), Crispy Caramel Egg (155g, €8 RRP) Milk Chocolate Egg (230g, €10 RRP), Dark Chocolate Egg (230g, €10 RRP), the new Nutty Egg (250g, €12 RRP) and the Fleur de Sel Mini Eggs (90g, €6 RRP). Each egg is beautifully packaged in 100% fully sustainable packaging, wrapped with pink Kraft paper which unfolds to reveal the

beautiful hand-crafted egg. Each egg also includes Lir truffles – an added treat for consumers. The 100% sustainable packaging forms part of Lir’s journey to become fully sustainable across all their packaging and ingredients within the next five years.

The Lir Chocolates Easter range will be available in all major multiples and independents. The entire portfolio can be purchased online at www.lirchocolates.com.

Lir Chocolates are New for Easter 2022, the Lir Nutty also delighted to be Egg is a deliciously eye-catching expanding their Baileys Belgian chocolate egg, completely Chocolate range for covered in chopped nuts and cocoa Easter 2022. Baileys nibs, while it also includes hazelnut Chocolate combines praline centred truffles. creamy chocolate with the iconic Irish Cream Liqueur for a luxurious, indulgent treat.

This Easter will welcome the new Baileys Chocolate Sundae Egg to Irish shelves (€10 RRP, 220g). This unique hand decorated

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Easter Treats Belgian Lir’s popular 155g chocolate egg Crispy Caramel Egg is has a hint of a real winner with Irish Baileys flavour chocolate lovers. with fudge, chocolate buttons and salted caramel crispies.

The Baileys Chocolate Easter range offers consumers a wide array of gifting and self-treat options this Easter season.

The Baileys Chocolate Easter portfolio includes: Baileys Strawberry & Cream Egg (205g, €10 RRP), Baileys Salted Caramel Egg (215g, €10 RRP), Baileys Sundae Egg (220g, €10 RRP) and Baileys Chocolate Luxe Mini Eggs (138g, €6 RRP), Baileys Strawberry & Cream Hearts (90g, €5 RRP), and Baileys Chocolate Cupcakes (138g, €6 RRP).

The Baileys Chocolate Easter portfolio is available to purchase in-store at all major retailers and independents. The full Baileys Chocolate range can be purchased online at www.lirchocolates.com.

Lir Chocolates’ 230g Milk Chocolate Egg and Dark Chocolate Egg have an RRP of €10 and are sure to tempt chocolate lovers across the country.

The iconic Guinness Dark Chocolate Harp egg with six mini pints (215g, €10 RRP) is sure to be a hit with all Guinness fans.

The Guinness Egg will be available to purchase from all major multiples and independents. Shop the entire Guinness range online at www.lirchocolates.com.

Lindt Available now in stores nationwide, Lindt Gold Bunny continues to dominate the novelties category as clear market leader at Easter, delivering over €1.5m in sales (Source: Nielsen Total Scantrack Value Sales Easter period; 15 weeks to April 4, 2021, v prior).

The Lindt Gold Bunny is guaranteed to make your shoppers and loved ones smile from ear to ear, each one made by the Lindt Master Chocolatiers from the finest Lindt Lindt have added new flavour to chocolate, wrapped the Gold Bunny range, Lindt Gold in exquisite gold foil Bunny Hazelnut, available across packaging and finished all retailers nationwide. with the iconic red ribbon and ringing bell.

This Easter season, you can expect to see a strong support plan behind the Lindt Gold Bunny brand, both in-store to bring the Lindt Gold Bunny to life at point of purchase, as well as a heavyweight TV plan to bring the magic of the brand into consumers’ hearts and minds in the lead-up to Easter Sunday.

Lindt Gold Bunny comes in a wide variety of sizes, formats, and flavours and as leaders in the novelties segment, Lindt want to drive excitement and relevancy during the Easter season by introducing a new flavour to the Gold Bunny range, Lindt Gold Bunny Hazelnut, available across all retailers nationwide.

The Lindt Easter Egg range is back on your shelves this spring, with some new additions to the portfolio which are sure to entice your shoppers in the run-up to the big day. Lindor Double Chocolate Lindt Excellence is now available as Easter Egg is a an Easter egg with a fresh new look welcome addition to the and feel. current range, further strengthening the exciting range of flavours available to your customers. Tapping into the popularity of Lindt Excellence, bringing this truly AYR brand into the Easter category, it is now available as an Easter egg with a fresh new look and feel. Finally, Easter 2022 will see a new, sustainable (100% plastic free), cohesive artwork refresh for the Gold Bunny shell egg range and now includes a

STOCK UP NOW on Ireland's No.1 Novelty at Easter

Nielsen Total Scantrack Value Sales Easter period = 15 weeks to 4th April 2021 v prior

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Easter Treats

The Lindt Easter Egg range is back on shelves this spring, including new Lindor Double Chocolate Easter Egg.

Gold Bunny White Easter Egg, bringing even more magic and joy to the shell egg category.

The full Lindt Easter Egg range continues to be a key sales driver for retailers at springtime and are once again proving to be must stockitems as consumers look to trade up and give a premium, special Easter gift.

Lindt Lindor has strengthened its position as the number one boxed chocolate brand in the Irish market. €1 in every €6 spent on a box of chocolates in Ireland is spent on a Lindor box (Source: Nielsen, Total Scantrack ROI Data to January 2, 2022), proving that Lindt Lindor continues to be a muststock for retailers in 2022.

With a wide range of exciting and delectable flavours as well as formats, Lindt Lindor is the perfect chocolate gift for any occasion. Lindor’s success comes not only from the much-loved classic Lindor milk recipe but also through their continual innovations to the market that are guaranteed to excite and delight your shoppers. This Lindt Lindor has spring experience bliss with strengthened its position the most indulgent addition as the number one boxed to the Lindor range: Double chocolate brand in the Chocolate.

Irish market, with Double The Lindt Master Chocolate the latest addition Chocolatiers combine to the range. expertise and the finest ingredients to create the perfectly round milk chocolate truffles with an irresistibly smooth melting filling with dark chocolate.

Also new to the market this spring is Lindor Heart Box 200g, the same smooth melting milk Lindor in a seasonal Heart Box, making it the perfect gift for your loved one this Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day. Supported by a strong national campaign, Lindor TV advertising will return to your screens this spring with increased support and activity both in and out of store.

Lindor 200g retails at €6.99 and the Lindor Heart Box 200g retails at €8.99.

Cadbury Creme Egg To the delight of chocolate fans across Ireland, Cadbury Creme Eggs have returned to shelves nationwide in all their gooey glory. The irresistible eggs are available for a limited time only, and shoppers are warned to keep an eye out for prize-winning Cadbury Creme Eggs, half-dipped in delicious white chocolate, before taking a bite. Once again, the unique treats have been hidden beneath the unassuming wrapper of a classic Creme Egg and can score chocoholics up to €2,500.

This year’s ‘How Do You Not Eat Yours’ competition puts people’s temptation to the ultimate test, because to claim the cash prize, fans need to keep their winning egg intact, resisting every urge to tuck into their favourite sweet treat. Winning just became a little less lucky!

This year’s ‘How Do You Not Eat Yours’ competition puts people’s temptation to the ultimate test, because to claim the cash prize, fans need to keep their winning egg intact.

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Easter Treats Each winning Creme Egg has been handmade by Cadbury’s expert team before being individually hidden in major retailers across the country, and the specific locations are being kept so secret that even Cadbury don’t know where they are, so there is only one way to find them.

“The Cadbury Creme Egg has been long adored by the nation, and we’re delighted to see their return to the store shelves,” noted Maighréad Lynch, Cadbury Brand Manager. “Last year we celebrated our Golden Goobilee with our golden egg so this year, we want to continue that buzz in true Creme Egg fashion. We’ve flipped our iconic ‘How Do you Eat Yours?’ tagline on its head, challenging our fans to resist the temptation of the nation’s favourite gooey chocolate egg in order to collect their prize. Not only that, but our expert chocolatiers have also taken the care to individually hand-dip these absolutely delicious half white and half milk chocolate Creme Eggs.”

For more information, visit www.cadbury.ie.

Nestlé Ireland An array of new goodies from KitKat, Aero and Rowntree’s are guaranteed to put a spring into the step of chocolate and sweet lovers everywhere.

“The new range of products has something for everyone,” notes Maria McKenna, Confectionery Marketing Manager, Nestlé Ireland. “Our KitKat Bites, boasting a rich filling and crispy wafer pieces encased in a milk chocolate shell, deliver an intense, chocolatey hit

with every mouthful. Perfect for a little evening indulgence, such as a family film night or after-dinner treat, it is a grownup twist on our much-loved brand.

“Meanwhile, Aero fans are sure to love Aero Melts, a completely different way to experience Aero’s unique combination of chocolate and bubbles that melt effortlessly in your mouth,” she added.

“The latest additions to our Rowntree’s family, Randoms Squidgy Swirls, present even more tantalising flavours in new varieties, while Jelly Tots Tropical Tots complete the line-up with five tangy flavours on offer.”

With a deliciously smooth and chocolatey centre, crunchy wafer pieces and a milk chocolate shell, KitKat Bites are a more indulgent way to enjoy a break. Milk chocolate KitKat Bites are available in 90g sharing bags from Tesco stores since early February, and launch in other supermarkets and convenience stores nationwide from April. Chocolate Caramel KitKat Bites are also launching in February, exclusive to Tesco.

Also new from KitKat is the KitKat Chunky Lotus Biscoff Giant Egg (274.5g), which is set to become one of the musthave gifts for Easter 2022! This appetising egg offers KitKat fans their first chance to try the hotly anticipated KitKat Chunky Lotus Biscoff, which will be coming to the Irish market later this year. The newest Chunky flavour features the brand’s trademark crispy wafer, topped with a delicious Lotus Biscoff filling, all covered with smooth milk chocolate. The Giant Egg comprises a milk chocolate shell egg alongside three full-size KitKat Chunky

Nestlé Ireland have an array of new products from KitKat, Aero and Rowntree’s hitting shelves this spring.

New KitKat Chunky Lotus Biscoff Giant Egg offers KitKat fans their first chance to try the hotly anticipated KitKat Chunky Lotus Biscoff, which will be coming to the Irish market later this year.

Lotus Biscoff (41.5g) bars.

Other new products include KitKat 4 Finger Orange, which is a real zesty treat, available in a 41.5g bar and a multipack of 4 x41.5g bars, and and KitKat 2 Finger White, the latter containing just 106 calories per bar, available now in multipacks of nine 2-finger bars (20.7g x 9).

The entire KitKat range is made using 100% certified sustainable cocoa, sourced through the Nestlé Cocoa Plan in conjunction with Rainforest Alliance, and contains no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

A brand-new innovation, Aero Melts are delicious buttons of light and bubbly chocolate that melt effortlessly in the mouth for a moment of chocolatey indulgence. Available in milk chocolate and caramel flavour sharing bags, Aero Melts are available since early February.

Brand new from Rowntree’s this spring are Randoms Squidgy Swirls.

This latest launch is a tongue-tantalising assortment of fruit and yogurt-flavour jellies in three delicious varieties: blackcurrant and yogurt, strawberry and yogurt and apple and yogurt. Deliciously fruity and creamy tasting with a satisfying squidge, Randoms Squidgy Swirls are available nationwide since the beginning of February.

Also new to the Rowntree’s range are Jelly Tots Tropical Tots. A vegan friendly treat, Tropical Tots are made with real fruit juice and come in five tangy flavours: passion fruit, peach, pineapple, grapefruit and mango. Jelly Tots Tropical Tots are available exclusively in Tesco stores from the middle of February.

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Retail Ireland: Monthly Update

RETAIL IRELAND CALLS FOR REFORM OF LICENSING LAWS RETAIL Ireland has called for a major reform of the country’s licencing laws in a submission to an ongoing Department of Justice review of the current rules.

In the submission, the group criticised the current regime, which is said was out of date, complex and fragmented. It said a new approach was required, which was simpler, more transparent and would better serve the needs of the country.

The review, which was proposed in the Programme for Government, is the first step towards the establishment of a modern licencing regime and aims to codifying alcohol licensing laws into a single Act. Legislation governing the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol in licensed premises is currently set out in the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2018 and in the Registration of Clubs Acts 1904 to 2008. The objective of a proposed new Sale of Alcohol Bill is to repeal the Licensing Acts and the Registration of Clubs Acts and to replace them with updated and streamlined provisions.

In its submission, Retail Ireland recognises the important role that retailers play in ensuring the appropriate advertising and sale of alcohol products in Ireland. The sector has invested significantly in the necessary training and support for staff, while also putting in place robust protocols to ensure compliance with existing licensing laws.

Facilitating a vibrant market While public health and public order are rightly identified as key considerations in the review process, the retail group said it is also crucial that any new approach should also be straightforward, efficient, and not impose an unnecessary and costly regulatory burden on retailers. Licencing laws should facilitate and promote a competitive and vibrant market, that better meets the needs of consumers.

In its submission, Retail Ireland made the following recommendations to Government:

Licensing application systems: Retail Ireland supports licensing matters being dealt with by the District Court. The licensing application process should, however, be reformed, and the number of available licences increased. This would reduce costs, boost competition, and enhance consumer choice.

Trading hours: There is no compelling case for continuation of Sunday trading hours in the retail sector, which bear no relation to the working and living patterns of a great many consumers. From an operational and customer service perspective, Sunday trading hours should be brought in line with the rest of the week.

Online delivery/sales: The provision of online sales and delivery provides an important service to many consumers.

Retailers are supportive of the current legislative/licensing system and actively work to ensure compliance through robust sales and delivery protocols, along with staff training. Ensuring that minors do not gain access to alcohol products, supporting customers

to make informed and healthy choices about responsible consumption of alcohol, and having a wide range of non-alcoholic options available are absolute priorities for the sector.

Night-time economy: Retail Ireland fully supports the ongoing work to develop a thriving night-time economy, which supports vibrant town and city centres. The night-time economy is a core component of the wider ‘experience economy’ and will be key to revitalisation and growth of town centres across the country. Boosting the attractiveness of the city centre through the promotion of outdoor dining and pedestrianisation is part of this approach. It is important that any outdoor and pedestrianisation requirements associated with the night-time economy take account of the logistical and delivery needs of retailers.

The Department of Justice will publish the results of the consultation in the coming weeks and bring forward new legislative proposals later this year.

Tel: 01-6051558 www.retailireland.ie Need more?

For more information about what we do and how your retail business can benefit from our unique services and supports, please visit us at www.retailireland.ie.

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Food & Drink Exports

Record year for Irish food and drink exports The value of Ireland’s food, drink and horticulture exports increased by 4% to a record €13.5 billion in 2021, despite the impact of Covid-19 and Brexit on trading.

IRELAND exported the equivalent of almost €37m worth of food and drink every day last year to customers in more than 180 countries worldwide, according to new data from Bord Bia’s Export Performance and Prospects report 2021/2022.

Ireland exports about 90% of its food and drink production and the performance of the export sector was robust in 2021, given the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the fact that the UK is now operating outside of the EU Customs Union. The value of Irish food and drink exports was 2% higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

The dairy sector, which was worth more than €5 billion last year, remains the largest element within Irish food and drink exports, followed by meat and livestock, which generated over €3.5 billion in export sales, and prepared consumer foods, which was worth more than €2.5 billion.

Bord Bia also published ambitious new three-year targets to further contribute to the growth in the valuechain of Irish food and drink exports as part of the launch of its new 10-year Statement of Strategy. The plan envisages a significant expansion in the value growth of Irish food and drinks exports during the period, including an 11% increase in the value of dairy, meat, and livestock exports, and a 14% jump in prepared consumer food exports.

Sustainability a core theme Sustainability is a core theme within the new strategy, as Bord Bia strengthens its supports and standards to reflect the high level of ambition required to meet both environmental challenges and market demands. As highlighted in Food Vision

Pictured are Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD, with Tara McCarthy, CEO, Bord Bia. 2030, Origin Green has been instrumental in monitoring and driving improvements in environmental sustainability and demonstrating this to trade customers and consumers, both at home and abroad.

The challenges ahead are significant, but Origin Green provides a strong base from which to position Ireland as a global leader in sustainable food systems.

“Sustainability will continue to be a key focus for Bord Bia both this year and in the years ahead, as we work in partnership with the Irish food, drink, and horticulture industry to meet the Irish Government’s carbon reduction targets and sustainability challenges,” noted Bord Bia Chief Executive Tara McCarthy. “The Government’s Food Vision 2030 strategy outlines the central role that Origin Green will play in supporting Ireland’s food sector in achieving Ireland’s environmental and sustainability goals. We look forward to helping Irish businesses to further embrace sustainability and ensure that Ireland continues to be acknowledged as a leader in sustainable food production.”

A shining light of the economy The Performance and Prospects 2021/2022 report was launched by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD, who described the food and drink sector as

“one of the brightest shining lights of our economy”.

“Given the difficult external factors, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and our nearest trading partner, the UK, moving outside the EU Customs Union, this really was an outstanding export performance by the food and drink sector, supported

by Bord Bia,” noted the Minister. “I pay tribute to our farmers, our fishers, and our food producers, as well as the processing and marketing sectors who drove this incredible performance. Our food and drink producers continue to innovate and seek new markets for their products, and it is truly heartening to see such an impressive performance from Ireland’s largest indigenous industry.”

Tara McCarthy said that the industry needed to be cognisant of a number of key trends for this year, with challenges including increased supply chain and input costs, the ongoing impact of Brexit, and a tightening labour market. “The increased focus on sustainability brings both challenges and opportunities for the food sector,” she noted. “Consumers want healthy natural food and Ireland can deliver on that demand, but we must also work collectively and collaboratively to reduce carbon emissions to meet our 2030 commitments, and to further embed sustainability within all production, manufacturing, and distribution activities.”

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Paper Products

The big tissue Sustainability is the key trend driving sales in the paper products sector.

THE impact of Covid-19 on the paper products market was profound. With more people working from home, there was higher demand than pre-pandemic levels for toilet paper and kitchen towels at home, as consumers used their own bathrooms and kitchens more, as well as engaging in more frequent household cleaning, according to the latest report into the sector

by Euromonitor International.

Sustainability is a key concern across all FMCG categories, but particularly so in paper products, according to Euromonitor, who note how Irish consumers’ strong environmental convictions often influence their product choices. Most of the main brands continue to invest in the area of sustainability, reinforcing the message to consumers that their products are as environmentally friendly as possible.

Premium options can serve to address eco-concerns, while allowing brands to compete better with private label, according to Euromonitor, which has strong household penetration in the paper products category. Bigger packs, POS promotion and packaging are other ways for brands to challenge private label, the Euromonitor report reveals, as most of the leading brands, particularly in toilet paper and paper towels, introduced bigger packs that highlight value for money in order to attract priceconscious, bargain-hunting consumers.

The Covid-19 pandemic led to consumers buying in bulk, particularly in the early stages of the pandemic.

Essity Essity is the number one manufacturer of tissue (toilet tissue, household towel and facial tissue) in the Irish market, claiming a 19.2% share (Kantar Worldpanel MAT Data to September 5, Total Manufacturer Share). Essity’s global ambition for sustainability is to

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Paper Products achieve 100% recyclable packaging made with 85% renewable and recycled materials by 2025. During 2022, Essity will continue to advertise their brands on TV with a new TV commercial for Cushelle toilet tissue as well as Plenty household towel.

Cushelle Cushelle is Ireland’s number one toilet tissue brand and one of the fastest growing, with the most recent Kantar data showing that one in five shoppers buy Cushelle (Source: Kantar WPO data to December 6, 2022).

Cushelle is Cushelle, one of the fastest growing toilet now available tissue brands in Ireland. in a more sustainable option, with Cushelle Double Roll, available in 85% recycled and renewable packaging. Cushelle Double Roll has twice as many sheets as the standard roll, so the irresistibly cushiony soft Cushelle Double Roll lasts even longer so shoppers won’t have to change the roll as often. It is also wrapped in packaging made from 60% recycled plastic and 25% plant-based materials.

“Our new Cushelle Double Rolls in 85% recycled and renewable packaging offer consumers the chance to make small changes without compromising on quality,” explains Simon Pickering, Country Manager.

Cushelle Double Rolls in recycled and renewable packaging (RRP €7.99) contain six double rolls (equivalent to 12 Cushelle standard rolls) and the added convenience of 360 sheets per roll – twice as many sheets as a standard roll.

All Cushelle packaging is recyclable, comes with a recyclability message on-pack, while the back of pack contains clear messaging to help consumers understand how they can dispose of the packaging, which is recyclable in Irish household

Cushelle Double Roll has twice as many sheets as the standard roll, available in 85% recycled and renewable packaging.

recycling bins.

“We are constantly innovating to reduce our carbon footprint.

With meaningful changes to our manufacturing, superior fibres and smarter product design, we are working to significantly reduce the impact our tissue products have on the environment,” Simon reveals. “One of our key commitments is to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030 from a 2016 baseyear.”

Plenty Plenty is Ireland’s leading household towel brand with 25.5% market share (Source: Nielsen total Scantrack data to December 3, 2021).

Plenty has an exciting new TV campaign coming in H1 2022.

As well as this, the brand launched Plenty Max into the market in 2021, which is three times stronger when wet and removes 99.9% of bacteria with its bacteria trap in the structure of the towel.

Sustainability has been a key focus for Plenty for many years and the brand recently launched an online sustainability platform at www.plenty.com/sustainability to showcase examples of how Plenty is leading the way when it comes to sustainability.

Plenty Max, which launched This stretches back to in 2021, is three times 2017 when Plenty moved stronger when wet and from 50 sheets per roll to removes 99.9% of bacteria 100 sheets, which reduced with its bacteria trap in the the brand’s carbon footprint structure of the towel. by 2% and resulted in 700 less lorries on the road every day across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Plenty’s online platform also has educational articles on home recycling, and eco-friendly cleaning tips.

All Plenty packaging is recyclable and comes with a recyclability message on-pack, while the back of pack contains clear messaging to help consumers understand how they can dispose of the packaging. Due to technology advancements in Ireland, soft plastics, including Plenty’s and Cushelle’s packaging, are now recyclable in Irish household recycling bins.

“We have goals towards sustainability and with our market leading brands our aim is to remain at the forefront of consumers’ minds,” notes Simon Pickering, Country Manager, Essity Ireland Ltd. Essity is a leading global hygiene and health company dedicated to improving well-being through products and solutions, essentials for everyday life. The name Essity stems from the words essentials and necessities. The company’s sustainable business model creates value for people and nature.

Sales are conducted in approximately 150 countries under the leading global brands Tork and Tena, along with regional brands such as Cushelle, Plenty, Velvet, Bodyform and Demak’Up. For more information visit www.essity.com.

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Nivea

Complete cleansing care with Nivea Daily Essentials Double Effect Eye MakeUp Remover

CREATED to offer easy make-up removal, skin cleansing and care, the Nivea cleansing range delivers the most complete cleansing experience. The innovative collection of products from Ireland’s number one face brand helps to thoroughly cleanse the skin, while gently caring and protecting its delicate moisture balance. The Nivea cleansing line comprises various formats to suit all cleansing preferences, with dermatologically and ophthalmologically approved products.

Daily Essentials Sensitive 3 in 1 Micellar Cleansing Water This award winning product has an innovative formula which cleanses and removes makeup, while moisturising the skin, in one simple step. It respects the skin’s natural balance, requires no rinsing and is free of perfumes, colourants and parabens, making it ideal for sensitive skin.

Biodegradable Cleansing Wipes Gently and effectively cleansing the skin while maintaining its natural balance, these wipes

The Nivea cleansing range helps to thoroughly cleanse the skin, while gently caring and protecting its delicate moisture balance. thoroughly remove face and eye make-up, while providing the skin with refreshing moisture. These soft and gentle wipes are made with 100% renewable plant fibres, are biodegradable, and are enriched with specially selected organic Argan Oil and organic Aloe Vera, ensuring they are suitable for even sensitive skin.

INSTANT HYDRATION

IN THE MORNING WITH MOISTURISING VITAMIN E

This wonder product benefits from a gentle bi-phase formula which effectively dissolves eye make-up, while caring for eyelashes and the delicate skin around eyes. The ‘oil phase’ is designed to remove waterproof mascara and eye make-up without irritation.

The ‘aqueous phase’ is formulated to protect and care for lashes without leaving any oily residue. The highly effective yet caring formula is also enriched with cornflower extract, which is known for its antiinflammatory and soothing properties.

Refreshing Facial Wash Gel This wash gel deeply cleanses and hydrates for a perfectly clean, refreshed skin look and feel. The formula combines effective cleansing with the mild and moisturising benefits of Vitamin E to help strengthen the skin’s protective barrier, while effectively moisturising to support skin in maintaining its natural moisture balance every time you cleanse.

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Healthy Options

Healthy profits Consumers increasingly want food that is healthy without compromising on taste.

WHILE there was a growing health and wellness trend in Ireland prior to the pandemic, Covid-19 accelerated this trend and made consumers even more mindful of their consumption. According to the latest report into the sector by Euromonitor International, the pandemic has been a boon for health and wellness, with lockdowns in particular leading to increasing value and volume sales across all segments.

The outlook is positive for health and wellness over the coming years, according to Euromonitor, as the legacy of the pandemic continues to make consumers much more conscious of health and wellness. Many consumers will continue to avoid high levels of consumption of sugar, fat, salt and caffeine going forward, with manufacturers responding by offering products with either zero or reduced contents of these ingredients.

The soft drinks sector has been one area that has seen a lot of change in recent years, according to Euromonitor.

Since the roll-out of the sugar tax in 2018, companies have been investing resources to transfer consumption from less profitable regular soft drinks to low calorie soft drinks and it is paying dividends.

Naturally healthy is the second largest product area in terms of value sales within health and wellness packaged food, reveal Euromonitor, and has benefited from the impact of Covid-19,

as consumers focus more on eating healthily. This includes products like high fibre bread and healthy breakfast cereals like porridge oats.

Consumers will continue to avoid overly processed foods to the benefit of naturally healthy products in the coming years, predict Euromonitor, who also note that the naturally healthy category is generally more affordable than many other health and wellness products.

Better for you (BFY) is a more mature product area than other health and wellness packaged food product areas and while still in growth, it has been more moderate than other areas.

Reduced fat options account for most value sales, according to Euromonitor, and the products which registered the highest growth were reduced fat butter and spreads and reduced fat sauces, dressings and condiments.

While BFY reduced fat will remain the largest product area, BFY reduced salt will register the highest growth in the coming years, followed by BFY reduced sugar, predict Euromonitor.

As consumers look to reduce blood pressure, which is a prevalent health condition in Ireland, consumers will look to BTY reduced salt products.

Euromonitor argue that the fact that there is not a required system for front of pack labelling has led to confusion amongst shoppers when it comes to choosing healthier options in-store.

However, there are plans to introduce

a uniform system and there was an invitation from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in 2021 for interested parties to submit their views on what a uniform system should look like.

Tayto Lentil Chips Tayto, Ireland’s favourite crisps and snacks brand (Source: Nielsen Value Sales, January 2022), is delighted to introduce its latest product offering; Tayto Lentil Chips.

Tayto Lentil Chips are delicious, light and crispy and are packed full of flavour.

**40% less fat per 100g compared to standard cheese & onion fried potato crisps”

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Healthy Options John West John West has always been a trusted family name, and while they strive to retain their loyal customers, the brand is always looking to appeal to new consumers.

John West has been working with a team of expert dietitians to engage consumers around a healthy balanced diet and active lifestyle. Increasingly consumers are looking for ways to better their health, maintain their physical fitness and overall wellbeing.

Did you know that muscle mass starts declining after the age of 25 years old, John West Tuna Bowls: invigorating and tasty.

Innovative ranges such as No Drain Fridgepot have helped to grow the John West brand.

New Tayto Lentil Chips are available in Cheese & Onion and Sour Cream & Onion flavours.

Never one to rest on his laurels, Mr Tayto has been busy in the kitchen, creating a brand new snack that is a lighter option but still has all the great taste of Tayto. Tayto Lentil Chips contain 40% less fat than standard potato crisps (40% less fat per 100g compared to Tayto Cheese & Onion fried potato crisps), are a source of fibre (with 3.5g of fibre per 100g) and have no artificial colours and no added MSG. All with no taste compromise!

Tayto Lentil Chips are delicious, light and crispy and are packed full of flavour. Tayto Lentil Chips are available nationwide in a 110g Share Bag and Multipacks (6 x 20g packs), with an RRP of €2.89 (packs can be subject to special offer in different retail outlets).

and after the age of 40, muscle mass may decline at a yearly rate of 1-2% and muscle strength 2-5%; by the age of 80, roughly 30% of muscle mass and 50% of muscle strength may be lost.

Many medical professionals, and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland recommend that over 40s consume 25–30g of high-quality protein at every meal to prevent the loss of muscle mass and strength. However, research has shown that one-third of older adults in Ireland have protein intakes below recommendations.

John West products are naturally high in natural protein and Vitamin D, supporting muscle maintenance and the normal functioning of the immune system.

No Drain Infusions from John West: making it easy for shoppers to get natural protein and natural vitamin D into their diet.

By continuing to launch innovative ranges such as No Drain Fridgepot, No Drain Infusions, No Drain+ and Tuna Bowls, that are both invigorating and tasty, John West make it easy for your shoppers to get natural protein and natural vitamin D into their diet.

John West products are naturally high in natural protein and Vitamin D, supporting muscle maintenance and the normal functioning of the immune system.

YR YR Sauce is renowned for its sweet blended date recipe and exotic spices that have delighted generations of Irish families for years, both as a tasty condiment for hot and cold meals and a flavoursome cooking ingredient. Its flavour versatility allows it to be used in various meal recipes throughout the year and not just in the summer months for BBQ season. YR Original Sauce now boasts a completely glutenfree recipe and is vegan and vegetarian friendly, meeting contemporary dietary requirements, while maintaining its quality test standards and premium

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Healthy Options Lidl Ireland announces €11m deal with Dublin Fit Foods supplier

YR Original Sauce now boasts a completely gluten-free recipe and is vegan and vegetarian friendly. ingredients and its new packaging reflects these key unique selling points.

This innovative brand also has a YR relish range to delight consumers’ taste buds and bring a burst of unique flavours to the relish category. The three YR Relish flavours are YR Original Tomato Relish, YR Balsamic Red Onion and YR Habanero Spicy Relish. The products are gluten free, vegan and vegetarian friendly and have no added artificial colourings, flavours or preservatives and are guaranteed to invigorate the category. The YR team have been mindful to create the relishes at the lower end of the sugar spectrum and focus on high quality natural ingredients, to ensure it’s a healthier option for a wider target market.

YR is owned and distributed by Primeline Sales & Marketing. For more information contact your local sales representative or call (01) 8353000.

LIDL Ireland have agreed a multi-million-euro deal with Dublin Meat Company and their Fit Foods ready meals. The contract is worth €11m and will see the Irish supplier’s Fit Foods ready meals on shelves across Lidl’s 214 stores in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Dublin Meat Company is a 100% Irish-owned, family-run business, founded by brothers Brian and David O’Leary. In 2015, the company noticed changes in its customer’s eating habits and an increased demand for convenient, healthy meal solutions. Seeing this as an opportunity, a range of macro-friendly, and more importantly, tasty ready meals were developed, and the Fit Food range was born.

Lidl Ireland began working with Dublin Meat Company in January 2021, bringing the range of healthy ready meals to their customers across Ireland and Northern Ireland. The freshly prepared meals are packed in 100% recyclable trays and come in a range of different flavours including: Meatballs with Wholemeal Pasta, Clean Chicken Curry, Thai Red Curry with Brown Rice, Wholemeal Pasta, Sweet Chilli Chicken with Wholewheat Noodles, Turkey Burrito, Chicken, Chorizo with Baby Potatoes. In 2022, Dublin Meat Company will expand the range available at Lidl to include an exciting new Breakfast Club range.

Pictured are Enya Rooney, Senior Buyer at Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland, and Brian O’Leary, Managing Director, Dublin Meat Company.

New YR Original Tomato Relish, YR Balsamic Red Onion and YR Habanero Spicy Relish are gluten free, vegan and vegetarian friendly and have no added artificial colourings, flavours or preservatives.

“Working with Lidl was the next step in growth for our business,” noted Brian O’Leary, Managing Director at Dublin Meat Company. “Its professionalism and support in backing small Irish businesses like ours has allowed for exponential growth and exposure of our brand throughout the four corners of Ireland. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Lidl for years to come.”

Enya Rooney, Senior Buyer at Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland, said: “We’re lucky to work with amazing local suppliers at Lidl. Dublin Meat Company’s creativity and innovation really shines through in the high-quality meals they produce and customers are responding really well to the range. At this time of year, people are getting back to healthy eating and we are proud to exclusively supply this product in the Irish market.”

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Healthy Options: Plant-Based Products

Plant-powered profit places us as the tenth highest vegan population in the world.

Not only that, but growing numbers of Irish people are adopting a ‘flexitarian’ diet – recent figures suggest that one in four consumers now claim to be ‘flexitarian’, while a 2018 National Dairy Council survey found that 41% of women and 30% of men are limiting their dairy consumption, and a 2020 report from the European Investment Bank found that 59% of Irish respondents were cutting down on their meat intake to try and save the planet.

Is meat-free the way of the future? Insider commenters like MCA and HIM’s Steve Gotham certainly seem to think so. “Vegetarianism and veganism will potentially become sufficiently normal practices that a tipping point will be reached whereby the tables are turned and meat dishes will become the versions that consumers have to opt-in for,” he claimed, writing about the future of Irish grocery this decade for Retail News last year. Major international market watchers tend to agree; Barclay’s predicts that the global market for plant-based ‘meat’ alternatives will hit €125 billion by 2030.

There’s plenty of evidence to show that the food industry has not been slow to capitalise on the move to meat free, from Irish supermarket chains stocking their own plant-based ranges to independent Dublin producer Vegan Sandwich Co. securing a high commendation from the Irish Quality Food Awards for their rapid growth in the middle of a pandemic. So what can Irish retailers stock to secure their place in the non-meat market?

Vegan options have become big business as environmental and health concerns drive consumers away from meat and dairy, with convenience options at the top of the menu. Morgan Stokes reports.

VEGANUARY has been and gone, but plant-based diets seem to be here to stay – every year, more and more Irish consumers are making the decision to take meat and dairy off the menu. With our long tradition of beef and dairy farming, Ireland might seem an unlikely location for a high vegan population, but the statistics are surprising – a 2019 Chef’s Pencil survey

Moving on from meat and dairy – why consumers are making the change: Animal-friendly fare has moved far beyond beans and nuts, and with such a large range of plant-based products hitting

Growing numbers of Irish shoppers are adopting a ‘flexitarian’ diet.

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Healthy Options: Plant-Based Products the market, it’s useful to examine the reasons for the uptick in plant-based diets when deciding how to stock the shelves. While traditionally vegans have abstained for animal welfare reasons, a growing number of vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians cite environmental concerns as their reason for making the switch. This is particularly true for those committed to eating less animal products, but not cutting them out entirely.

It’s not exactly news that shoppers are citing sustainability as a driving factor behind their product choices, and according to the EPA’s 2019 inventory data, 35% of Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, with 57% of this figure due to methane production from sheep and cattle herds.

Since consumer concerns about climate change show no signs of abating, it’s unlikely that the plant-based trend is going anywhere any time soon.

Comfort and convenience While Bord Bia’s 2018 Dietary Lifestyles report found that many consumers claimed to be cutting out meat and dairy for the good of their health, the Covid-19 pandemic has us all craving comfort and convenience regardless of diet – Irish online vegan bible PlantBased.ie claims that orders of vegan options from Deliveroo surged 187% during lockdown.

The spectacular success of Dublin’s Vegan Sandwich Co. points to what vegan consumers are looking for. The new foodservice player bucked the Covid trend in hospitality and moved from market stalls to a bricks-and-mortar premises on the back of great-tasting meat substitutes and alternatives to classic deli products like their famous Chick*n Fillet Roll.

Comfort food and quick, chilled meat alternatives should have a great future.

Lockdowns don’t seem to be putting a dent in the growth of plant-based diets, either; the change seems to be pandemic-proof. While one might imagine that in these stressful times, consumers could be reluctant to shake up their lives by changing their eating habits, a recent Lumina Intelligence survey shows that more UK consumers took part in the Veganuary month-long vegan challenge in 2021 than ever before.

Green Grab-and-Go According to Bord Bia’s ‘Lunch! Insights from the Contemporary Food to Go Show’ report, snack foods account for the lion’s share of vegan NPD over the last two years. Combined with the general Covid consumer trend towards

The Happy Pear encourage consumers to go plant-based THE Happy Pear are encouraging everyone to incorporate more plant-based meals in their weekly repertoire for 2022. Dave and Steve from The Happy Pear are on a mission to encourage everyone to eat more plant-based, doing better for themselves and the planet. The good news is that even adopting just one plantbased meal into your week couldn’t be easier, with the help of The Happy Pear.

Their range, available at SuperValu, Centra and Daybreak stores nationwide, makes incorporating plant-based meals the easy option. They have everything you need, from ready-made meals, breakfast options, a full range of dinner-ready sauces, super snacks and everything in-between.

The Happy Pear range, available at SuperValu, Centra and Daybreak stores nationwide, makes incorporating plant-based meals the easy option.

“We feel passionately that eating plant-based is easy and achievable for everybody,” note Dave & Steve. “With our range, we aim to make the swop easier than ever. We have everything you need to make the move into eating plant-based the easy option, no matter who you are and what your lifestyle is. The new year is the perfect time to give it a go. Everyone is looking to be a bit healthier and make less of an impact on the planet and going plant-based is an easy switch you can do to make this happen, even if it is just for one meal or one day a week.”

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Healthy Options: Plant-Based Products Roots And Shoots Vegan Meal Bowls available in Avoca CUSTOMERS of Avoca Stores can now find Roots And Shoots Vegan Meal Bowls on shelves across the country. The prestigious store, which showcases the best of Irish brands, has selected the Galway-based brand as part of its product range for 2022.

“We are delighted Roots And Shoots has been listed by Avoca,” noted John Casey of Galmere Foods. “It’s a testament to the innovative high quality of our foods, along with the great work of our team, producing globally inspired flavours which appeal to modern Irish palates. Our food is made with passion and personality that matches the ethos of Avoca, and this is another recognition of Roots And Shoots’ incredible tastes.”

During January, Lidl Ireland and Lidl Northern Ireland featured Roots And Shoots as a promotional special in stores across the island, while the brand is also available in selected Tesco Ireland stores and Joyce’s of Galway.

Based in Galway, Roots And Shoots has been awarded a Gold member in 2021’s Bord Bia’s Origin Green sustainability programme. “We support Irish vegetable farmers, and our mission is to make great vegan and plant-based foods using fresh, wholesome ingredients, prepared just before we cook to make sure we retain all of their lovely flavours and nutrients,” John Casey explained. “We strive to always minimise food waste, and to source our ingredients within Ireland whenever possible.

All of our packaging is 100% recyclable, and we are always looking for ways to improve our sustainability! And, to make sure no-one is left out, our meals are animal produce, gluten, and nut free, and naturally low in calories.”

For more information, visit rootsandshoots.com.

Roots And Shoots Vegan Meal Bowls have been making waves with consumers right across the country.

quick and easy choices, this is great news for smaller retailers. It’s hardly surprising that Kantar data shows the highest concentration of animal product abstainers can be found among young urban consumers in Dublin, Cork and Galway, but even if you’re based outside of these hotspots, stocking long-lived products like frozen food, snacks and impulse items could earn you the undying loyalty of every vegan in a fivemile radius.

Plant-based vs vegan: what’s the difference, and does it matter?

The two terms, plant-based and vegan, are often used interchangeably, but there is a distinction – veganism is an ethical philosophy centred around animal welfare and environmental well-being, and plant-based just refers to the ingredients in the product. There are also a few plant-based products that some don’t consider to be vegan – many vegans avoid palm oil due to its environmental impact, for example.

While the majority of consumers aren’t going to get hung up on exact definitions, labelling shelves and sections as ‘plantbased’ might be best, as the term avoids any hint of moral judgement. More health-focused consumers may also be drawn to the clean-living connotations of the ‘plant-based’ label.

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Healthy Options: Non Alcoholic Beer

NAB market growth continues The move towards healthy options has extended to the beer market, where the growth of non/low alcohol options continues unabated.

NON/low alcohol beer has experienced phenomenal growth over recent years, tying in perfectly with the overall move towards healthier options. Once considered niche, non alcohol beer has well and truly hit the mainstream in recent years, as the beer market’s biggest players enter the category with high profile launches across the biggest and best-known brands in the country.

Off-trade volume sales of non/low alcohol beer saw the strongest off-trade growth in the latest report into the sector

by Euromonitor International, albeit from a relatively small base. With the Covid-19 virus increasing the interest in health and wellness, this boosted sales for non/low alcohol options, Euromonitor explain.

Recent research commissioned by Heineken found that 78% of people feel there is less stigma surrounding going alcoholfree at social occasions now than in previous years and 65% of people feel that it’s easier to go alcohol-free now, thanks to the range of 0% options on the market.

BrewDog Punk AF BrewDog are on a mission to prove that alcohol-free does not equate to taste-free. And now they bring you a new alternative to the mainstream. Punck AF is a beer for those seeking a point of difference at 0.5% ABV that brings all the attitude of the flagship, Punk IPA. Punk IPA was the beer that kick-started the craft beer revolution and Punk AF is the next step in their desire to brew beer for every taste, for every occasion.

No alcohol just got “Punked up”. And Punk AF lives up to its billing, with all the flavour but none of the alcohol. Say hello to the Punkest non alcoholic beer in town, brewed with eight different hops from North America, New Zealand and Europe,

Punk AF from BrewDog: the Punkest non alcoholic beer in town. where juicy tropical fruit mixes it up with grassy and pine notes, all sitting on a solid malt bassline. The bitter finish belies its ABV, rolling in at 35 IBUs to provide the perfect retort to those who push alcohol-free beer devoid of character.

Punk AF, described as “the new saviour of alcohol-free”, is distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam.

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Healthy Options: Non Alcoholic Beer Heineken 0.0 The Heineken 0.0 Brand Team recently rolled out a campaign to kick off 2022 with the aim of showing the nation that less alcohol doesn’t mean less craic. They enlisted the help of interagency partners Honey+Buzz, Thinkhouse, Red Star and Talon Ireland.

The successful campaign came on the back of new research carried out by Thinkhouse and Bounce Insights which showed a growing number of Irish adults participating in Dry January this year. However, instead of communicating a ‘health-focused’ message, they wanted to have a bit more fun with Dry Jan. The research suggests that as a whole, 2021 saw a reduction in alcohol consumption for some groups, with one in three respondents reporting decreased alcohol consumption in comparison with previous years. 78% of people feel that there is less stigma now surrounding not drinking at social occasions.

Similarly, over 70% of respondents said that socialising can be just as enjoyable when opting for alcohol-free alternatives and 0% options.

Heineken 0.0’s campaign focused on the theme: ‘Why have zero craic, when you can have 0.0 craic?’ worked hard to give Irish consumers an appealing, great tasting non-alcoholic option. We’re so proud of this campaign, which saw us inject more craic into the Dry January occasion. This campaign will help springboard the brand into 2022, which is a year we hope to do our best work yet. Watch this space.”

A bottle of Heineken 0.0 contains just 69 calories and finds favour amongst those seeking a balanced lifestyle.

Heineken 0.0 brand ambassador Lucy Kennedy pictured at the launch of the Heineken 0.0 Dry January campaign as the brand surprised passers-by in Dublin city at an interactive billboard.

On the back of this research, Honey+Buzz developed the campaign around an insight of ‘Why have zero craic, when you can have 0.0 craic?’. To launch the campaign, the Heineken 0.0 Brand Team held a surprise stunt on January 1 where consumers could win one of five prizes worth €500 by interacting with a 3D billboard on Macken St in Dublin. Heineken 0.0 brand ambassador Lucy Kennedy launched the stunt on the day, engaging with passers-by and handing out prizes, marking the start of 31 days of competitions.

Joe.ie were selected as main media partners for the campaign, ensuring the brand hit its bullseye audience, through inspiring editorial content, eye-catching display & social, and on-site competitions. It was important to have an element of disruption within the campaign so the team chose to work with Headcase to create two on-street murals, which were also amplified by Joe.ie, working together in promoting the ‘Now You Can’ campaign platform.

“Heineken 0.0 is not just a solution for when you cannot drink alcohol. It is also perfect for those occasions when you just prefer not to drink alcohol,” noted Mark Noble, Heineken 0.0 Marketing Manager. “Since launching Heineken 0.0, we have

Guinness 0.0 Guinness 0.0 launched during late summer 2021, initially in the on-trade with the can available from supermarkets and off-licenses from the end of August.

Guinness 0.0 is the nonalcoholic beer from the brewers at St James’ Gate that boasts the same beautifully smooth taste, perfectly balanced flavour and unique dark colour of Guinness, without Guinness 0.0 boasts the same beautifully the alcohol. smooth taste, perfectly balanced flavour The St and unique dark colour of Guinness, James’s Gate without the alcohol. brewers start by brewing Guinness exactly as they always have, using the same natural ingredients - water, barley, hops, and yeast - before gently removing the alcohol through a cold filtration method.

The cold filtration process allows the alcohol to be filtered out without presenting thermal stress to the beer, protecting the integrity of its taste and character. The brewers then carefully blend and balance the flavours to ensure the distinctive flavour profile and taste characteristics of Guinness.

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Retail Technology: Payment Platforms

The futur e of payme nt technolog y

Colin Neil, Managing Director (UK & Ireland) at Adyen, looks at the crucial trends in the world of payment technology that will guide Irish retailer growth strategies in 2022 and beyond.

IRELAND is a thriving e-commerce hotbed, with revenues set to reach in excess of €6.3 billion in 2022, helped by an increasingly tech-savvy population, with smartphone usage driving online retailing activity.

Retail giants are recognising the growing potential of the Irish e-commerce space, as Amazon strengthens its Irish presence with the opening of its first e-commerce fulfilment centre set for early 2022, which will help widen the support for its Prime Delivery option. The spike in online shopping has also put Irish retailers in front of a global audience, with Irish companies, like footwear brand Dubarry, for instance, attracting new international shoppers in ever-greater numbers. Thanks to the surge in e-commerce, Irish businesses are no longer restricted by borders or typical business hours – a global customer base awaits them, and the sooner you can get connected, the sooner sales will shoot up.

All this activity is great news for Irish retailers - but only if they have the tech platforms in place that can serve a global customer base, with speed and security built-in, and the ability to adapt

to whatever the future of e-commerce brings. For many Irish brands, looking beyond their borders will become increasingly vital to their continued growth in 2022. As global e-commerce values and cross-border transactions continue to rise, making sure that your business is ready for the challenges of expanding is crucial to sustained success.

Fraud detection and SCA A wave of fraud and data leaks during the pandemic hit almost half of the Irish retailers surveyed in Adyen’s latest retail report. As fraudsters get more cunning and devise new forms of attack to slip under the radar of retailers, businesses need to protect themselves from future threats.

By arming themselves with agile platforms and data on the latest fraud trends, merchants can fight back against evolving cyber-crime, and let their customers shop with confidence safely.

One of the best ways to do this is by deploying Strong Customer Authentication (SCA), which adds extra security layers to online payments by asking customers for two of three authentication markers: something they

Colin Neil, Managing Director (UK and Ireland), Adyen. know (a password or PIN), something they own (a mobile phone or device to generate a one-time passcode), and something they are (a biometric marker like a fingerprint or facial scan).

SCA is now live in Ireland, but remains a bone of contention for many merchants, who claim that SCA slows down shopper

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Retail Technology: Payment Platforms About Adyen

rs me ore u s n Co ect m nce e x e p veni e r n co mo d an ible t x fle men t the y a a p ice ut. o h c cko che

checkout completions and increases cart abandonment rates. But these frictions were down to the original 3D Secure element of SCA, where shoppers had to manually enter passwords and PINs. Now the more user-friendly 3D Secure 2.0 (3DS2) has been rolled out, passwords and SMS codes are being swapped for much faster measures like biometrics and tokenisation, which offer far smoother customer journeys. 3DS2 is optimised for mobile transactions and for functionality with mobile wallets such as Apple Pay. As wallets are already securely authenticated, the online shopping experience is slicker than ever before.

If retailers take the steps to ensure SCA is in place with systems that can detect and prevent fraud attacks, the two can work in harmony to provide a smooth and seamless experience for shoppers. What’s more, merchants will receive better risk-based, real-time fraud analysis, helping them accept more genuine transactions and boosting their bottom line.

Unified Commerce - the changing shape of retail Although the challenges of the pandemic are still with us, Unified Commerce became the defining retail success story, with astonishing revenue growth of 36% in Ireland in 2020, according to e-commerceDB. In a nutshell, Unified Commerce takes omnichannel to the next level, routing it through a single platform to create a totally connected solution for the modern business.

We saw how businesses that embraced new customer journeys like

ADYEN was founded in 2006 with the aim of helping businesses grow, by building a payment platform capable of meeting the rapidly evolving needs of today’s fast-growing global businesses. Adyen is Surinamese for ‘Start over again’, and the company’s founders focused on building a modern infrastructure directly connected to card networks and local payment methods across the world, allowing for unified commerce. It has now become the payments platform of choice for many of the world’s leading retailers. kerbside pickup, click and collect, or in-app ordering ahead, enjoyed sustained revenues and consistent consumer footfall, even as business models had to change. Consumers have shown that they love these new ways to pay and want them to stay around. Merchants need to take a leaf from the market leaders and implement robust Unified Commerce strategies that can futureproof their businesses against future threats.

The most forward-thinking Irish merchants are already stepping into the Unified Commerce world and boosting instore shopping by blending e-commerce and physical payment journeys together. Businesses that can deliver personalisation and convenience in-store will be the big winners in 2022.

A massive part of this will come from mobile commerce, aided by the ease of smartphone contactless payments, in-app payments and mobile wallets.

M-commerce will make up an even greater portion of retailer sales in 2022 and beyond, so it’s crucial that businesses can accept mobile payments in all forms and through all devices, including Apple and Android.

Irish retailers can enjoy simplified mobile payment experiences through all-in-one payment terminals that can handle payments, app management, loyalty programmes, returns, inventory checks and other functions. Increasingly, these unified solutions will take over from existing POS terminals, which typically need multiple pieces of hardware and maintenance.

Irish retailers who adopt this unified approach will also open up a goldmine of customer payment data to help them deepen customer loyalty. To get the maximum value from this data, businesses will require all payments data to be in one place, so a unified platform

will be key to achieving a truly 360° customer view in 2022.

Get ready for ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ Driven by the pandemic, consumers across every demographic have been reaching for alternative payment methods to supplement their traditional spending.

Newly emerged payment forms, such as ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ (BNPL), give customers alternatives to traditional debit or credit payments. Retailers need to prepare themselves for a future where offering more choice in payment solutions will be critical to attracting and retaining customers.

Consumers expect more convenience and more flexible payment choice at the checkout, and if you don’t offer what they’re looking for, there’s nothing stopping them heading elsewhere. With providers like Klarna now heading into the Irish market, retailers can’t afford to ignore BNPL’s growing popularity, especially when the Irish BNPL market is predicted to grow by about 50% every year to be worth about €1 billion by 2028.

What’s more, BNPL enables retailers to increase average basket values, and gives them a treasure trove of shopper payment behaviour that they can use to enhance their marketing offers and deepen shopper loyalty.

The rise of Ireland’s platform economy Ireland has shown itself to be a dynamic and robust retail market, even in the face of tough conditions. Ireland’s economy is dominated by SMEs, most of which lie outside digitally-driven services, but the number of Irish businesses selling online is way above the EU average, with 32% of Irish SMEs now selling online across borders. While this number is sure to grow higher, there is much room to improve digitisation and e-commerce capabilities even further.

The rise in unified platforms offers almost limitless potential to Irish businesses, especially smaller enterprises that may not have had the scale, infrastructure or resources to implement them in the past. With the latest generation of platform-based retail systems, even small retailers can reap the revenue-boosting rewards of offering multiple payment methods in one place, backed by strong security and intelligent data insights, allowing them to meet the changing demands of multiple customer bases with ease.

Fortified by these streamlined and robust systems in place, Irish businesses can step into 2022 with confidence, knowing they’re set for a prosperous future.

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Retail Technology: Data Analysis

How to supercharge your business Retail technology and data specialists, Talysis have a host of solutions to help you harness the power of big data. and straight-forward to lay out fixtures for any category instore, ensuring the optimum range of products are on shelf to maximise sales.”

PlanScan complements Talysis’s space planning service and has already been rolled out across 52 stores in the Eurospar estate.

Talysis PriceCube New for 2022 is Talysis PriceCube, which provides granular pricing and promotional insight for retailers, wholesalers and branded suppliers. Collating price and promotional data for thousands of product lines across the major Irish supermarket retailers, including Tesco Ireland and Dunnes Stores, PriceCube enables a full view of all promotional activity every week, delivering category, retailer and competitor insight and analysis to support channel, pricing and promotional strategies and revenue growth.

Ed Roberts, Talysis and Data Revolution Managing Director.

RETAIL technology provides a wealth of opportunity for organisations. Integrating the right technology with the right data solution is critical for harnessing the power and profiting from big data, which leads to an empowered business and drives vital efficiencies from top-to-bottom.

Yet reaching this point can at times feel overwhelmingly complicated. Working with a retail technology and data specialist, such as Talysis, can support and guide you through the complexities, to ensure you get to the right strategy and solutions to meet your business needs.

Talysis has been at the forefront of the Irish retail market for over 10 years, working with market leading retailers, including BWG Foods and their retail brands Spar, Eurospar, Mace, Londis and XL, as well as global and Irish brands such as Coca-Cola Hellenic and Keoghs, and specialising in the analysis, interpretation and application of retail sales data.

PlanScan: a brand new digital solution Talysis has created a full stable of solutions to aid retailers and their supplier partners to continue to grow their sales. The latest of its retailer centric category management solutions is PlanScan – a brand-new digital solution to help convenience retailers implement and maintain their in-store planograms. The QR code-based system enables retailers to use any mobile device to securely access real-time planograms for any category.

“There are multiple benefits to the PlanScan system for both retailers and suppliers,” explained Ed Roberts, Managing Director, Talysis Ltd. “Fundamentally, it provides instant access to the most up-to-date planograms, at any time, by any staff member with a mobile device, thus making it simple

PlanScan is a brand-new digital solution to help convenience retailers implement and maintain their in-store planograms.

Supporting FMCG retailers In addition to these new and innovative products, Talysis continues to support Irish FMCG retail and its suppliers with established data-led solutions, including category management and retail space planning, return on investment analysis, field sales call file optimisation and measurement, and automated data integration and reporting through its Data Revolution business.

With both data and technology advancing all the time, Talysis continues to innovate ahead of the curve. This has led to prestigious US trade magazine Retail Technology Insights naming the business as one of the Top Retail Tech Companies in the UK in 2021.

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Retail Technology: Intelligent Ordering

BWG pioneers gamechanging ordering system BWG Foods is spearheading game-changing AI-enabled technology to create a smart, predictive stock management system, with an investment of €6.5m over the next five years.

Chris Donnelly, Chief Information Officer, BWG Foods.

BWG Foods has become the first grocery retailer in Ireland to spearhead an intelligent ordering platform, ShopLink Pro, developed by US-based AI leader R4 Technologies, as part of a new pilot scheme taking place across its retail network.

Traditional ordering platforms rely on past data, creating a replenishment-based order by analysing what has sold, taking into account safety stock in order to predict what retailers should purchase.

However, this pioneering solution, built onto BWG Foods’ award-winning e-commerce system, ShopLink Pro, continually uses predictive intelligence to make daily forecasts for retailers based on what consumers will wish to purchase in the future.

ShopLink Pro will be trialled in 22 stores within the BWG Foods retail estate and on successful completion, the business will look to provide the solution to independent retailers across its network of more than 1,000 Spar, Eurospar, Mace, Londis and XL stores nationwide.

Smarter forecasting Overlaying an artificial intelligence (AI) module to the existing retail platform, ShopLink Pro processes the EPoS data from the full retail network, while gathering 240 additional data points, from weather and local events to social media, as well as demographic and census data. The system uses the data to compile an analysis of predicted consumer demand for in-store products, allowing for smarter forecasting of stock requirements.

Additionally, the solution takes into account business promotions and category management to deliver a 21-day, 14 day and seven-day sales forecast. Retailers will benefit from the creation of a fully automated daily replenishment order of goods, and the system also suggests new products to specific

stores to enhance their sales and meet local consumer needs.

Using the most advanced AI platform and suite of algorithms available in the market, R4 have designed the solution to support cost savings in the retail sector, deliver more effective category management and ensure retailers can consistently meet the demand of customers by taking advantage of opportunities arising locally.

ShopLink Pro will also provide BWG Foods with a complete view of the demand for products across its supply chain in a way that was never available previously. The solution will be fully integrated with the retailers’ existing ShopLink platform, following an upskilling programme for retailers to get the best from the solution.

A game changer for retailers “ShopLink Pro has the potential to be a real game changer for our retailers in 2022, transforming how they manage their offerings by understanding what their customers will wish to purchase in the near future,” noted Chris Donnelly, BWG Foods Chief Information Officer. “This is a really exciting proposition that brings an added layer of intelligence to better understand what our customers are looking for across different regions and environments in Ireland at any given time.

“There is huge potential for this solution to transform our operations in relation to category management and product waste, logistics, stock management and to create a genuinely tailored in-store experience that is capable of changing with demand with intelligent predictions and forecasting,” he concluded. “It also has the potential to change the consumer’s shopping experience, with offerings that are highly tailored to their unique needs, ultimately leading to better satisfied customers.”

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Retail Technology: Category Management

Maximising your return from Category Management The Planomax CatMan tool from Shelfstock offers retailers a better way to manage your category projects.

IN a typical Category Management (CatMan) project, there are strategic, tactical, and operational steps, after each step is reviewed and approved, implementation is agreed (usually consisting of a new planogram and/or a revised range of products with the category in question). Within each of these steps, there are micro steps that need to be completed to achieve the maximum result from CatMan methodology.

Category Captains Shelfstock and its partner Figueira Costa set out to better understand the working relationship between category captains and retailers. After several interviews with industry specialists, retailers and suppliers, they were able to map the process and identify how they work together and what type of data is shared.

They also identified the main blockages that all parties feel during the process, and based on that, they have developed a solution that aims to help streamline the process, while providing feedback on its progress.

The Planomax CatMan Tool Planomax CatMan tool allows you to create and manage your CatMan projects collaboratively, exchanging information, definitions, and files with your category captains in a simple and dynamic way, in a platform specifically developed to manage CatMan projects and planograms.

You can collaboratively organise and document the CatMan process in the form of macro steps.

Planomax CatMan tool allows you to create and manage your CatMan projects collaboratively, exchanging information, definitions, and files in a simple and dynamic way.

Key Benefits of Planomax CatMan Each step of the CatMan process can be tracked; all the relevant documents can be shared with the appropriate people to ensure all the steps are completed, after which the planograms and range updates can be approved (or pushed back for amendments), and then directly shared with the retail stores, ready for implementation in-store. The retailer also has the option of releasing them directly to stores without the need to reformat them or they can create emails using Planomax retail, which converts planograms to a QR code.

Simple, easy and efficient, CatMan helps you to save time, save money and deliver real results! For more information or a demo, email planomax@shelfstock.ie, phone Gerry on (086) 8333119 or visit www.shelfstock.ie.

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Drinks News Guinness to introduce zero emission transport vehicles GUINNESS is set to introduce the first zero emission vehicles into its iconic Quality fleet from this summer. The ambition is for 70% of the Quality fleet to be zero emission by the end of 2025, and 100% by the end of the decade.

Guinness already has a zero emission vehicle, which is used exclusively at the brewery, which was recently used in a trial to transport bulk beer in the Guinness tankers from St James’ Gate to Dublin Port, which will help determine if it can be used to transport heavy goods beyond the brewery.

Additionally, Guinness will be adding four zero emission trucks later this year to its fleet, which will be used in a separate trial to deliver kegs to the hospitality trade in Dublin City, with an ambition to extend further if successful. Hilary Quinn, Marketing Director, Diageo Ireland, is pictured alongside one of the new zero emissions vehicles.

Writers’ Tears releases Ulysses collector’s edition

Writers’ Tears, the super-premium Irish whiskey, is going to release a special, limited edition, collector’s bottling of its Writers’ Tears - Copper Pot expression to celebrate the 100year anniversary of the 1922 publication of James Joyce’s novel, Ulysses. The design of the bottling will feature a well-known location and chapter from Ulysses. Writers’ Tears will undertake a year-long programme of events, in-person and online, where patrons of the Irish whiskey can join with others in celebrating and gaining insights into what many consider to be the greatest novel of the 20th century. The creator of Writers’ Tears, Bernard Walsh, is pictured at home with his rare first edition copy of Ulysses.

Bulmers races ahead with sponsorship BULMERS has been revealed as the Official Entertainment Partner of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) Racecourses. The announcement sees Bulmers, part of the C&C group, become the first Primary Partner to HRI Racecourses as part of a three-year agreement. The two organisations will work closely together to grow interest and appeal in the sport of horse racing and enhance the racegoer experience with new entertainment, including music and comedy across a number of high-profile racing festivals nationwide. Racing fans and music lovers alike will be familiar with the enormously successful Bulmers Live at Leopardstown series, which has been running since 2009. This partnership announcement extends that agreement to include the three other HRI Racecourse venues (Fairyhouse, Navan, Tipperary) and provides a strong platform for Bulmers to bring the partnership to life nationally. Pictured at the launch were Paul Dermody, CEO, Horse Racing Ireland; David Whelan, Commercial Director C&C; and Karl Donnelly, Marketing Director with Bulmers.

Win an iPad Pro and Six Nations match tickets from Diageo TO celebrate the recent launch of Diageo’s new online portal Diageo One, customers with an account can be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets to one of the Ireland home matches during the Six Nations tournament and a new an iPad Pro. The portal, available for customers nationwide, has many key benefits for customers and acts as a one stop shop for day-to-day business requirements that’s easily accessed at your fingertips. From online orders, invoicing, support, and social assets that can be used across channels, the portal acts as an efficient and simple tool that will save time across all areas of business. Enter the competition on www.diageo-one.com to be one of six winners during the Six Nations Tournament.

Winners will receive an iPad Pro, perfect for doing your business on Diageo One, and a pair of tickets to one of the Ireland home matches.

Buffalo Trace Distillery donates 2,022 bottles

KENTUCKY’s Buffalo Trace Distillery is donating 2,022 bottles of its finest whiskies in 2022 in the hopes of raising record-breaking donations for non-profits around the world. Included in the offering of 2,022 bottles will be the world’s first six-litre bottle bourbon non-fungible tokens, which contain bourbon distilled in 1982 in Buffalo Trace Distillery’s OFC line. Organisations and registered charities are encouraged to register for a chance to be awarded a bottle to use for fundraising: www.buffalotracedistillery.com/footer-pages/charity-sign.html. Buffalo Trace will take care of sending the bottle to the selected organisation; the only thing asked in return is for the recipient to report back on how much money is raised.

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Garnier

Garnier scores on sustainability Garnier has responded to the results of its annual One Green Step report by expanding its Green Beauty initiative and launching a new No Rinse Conditioner.

MASS beauty brand Garnier has released the results of its annual One Green Step report, revealing the geographical and generational differences in environmental feeling of over 29,000 people in nine countries.

The data reveals that whereas 83% of those interviewed want to be more sustainable (up from 81%), only 5% consider themselves as already acting sustainably and only 30% are ready to take action for the planet now. Barriers for taking sustainable action include lack of choice, lack of information and finances.

In response, Garnier expanded its Green Beauty initiative with the launch of a new campaign encouraging the public to share One Green Step, aiming to create a snowball effect of environmental action. Each share triggers further funding by Garnier towards their Plastics for Change partnership, with up to two million additional plastic bottles set to be recycled.

The report also coincides with the

announcement of the first ever mass market No Rinse Conditioner, a product manufactured in a Carbon Neutral, WaterLoop factory and designed to help people change the way they wash their hair, for the benefit of the planet.

Drivers for change Major drivers for consumers’ intent include greater awareness of imminent risks of climate change (40%), as well as a desire in 2021 to self-educate on the situation (37%).

Family is another motivator. Almost one in three of adult respondents worldwide (30%) state they want to be more sustainable to protect their children’s future. In a comparative question 12 months ago, just 16% of respondents overall said having children meant they knew they had to act.

During 2021, some adults did take steps towards adopting a more sustainable lifestyle. These varied from recycling more (61%) to taking shorter showers (42%). The drive to get people to reduce plastic consumption also

Garnier’s new No Rinse Conditioner is estimated to save 100 litres of water per tube.

appears front of mind for a majority of respondents – with the same true in 2021, when 67% pledged to cut down on their use of plastic. However, only 5% of respondents consider themselves as already acting sustainably, more than one in eight say they struggled to make sustainable choices in 2021 and only 30% say they are ready to take action for the planet now.

Green Beauty from Garnier Garnier has responded by expanding its Green Beauty initiative with a new digital campaign, encouraging people all over the world to voice their commitment to take One Green Step in 2022, and the world’s fourth largest beauty brand is pledging to recycle two million plastic bottles, up to 10 for each step shared across personal social platforms.

The online campaign launched with a video, incentivising the public to reveal their own green changes in behaviour and driving increased funding to the brand’s long-term partner, NGO Plastics for Change. 80% of the funds will go to the Plastics for Change waste collectors in India to help support whole families out of poverty. More information on the campaign can be found at: www.garnier.co.uk/onegreenstep.

No Rinse Conditioner The campaign coincides with the announcement of significant further green science led, product innovation in the form of a No Rinse Conditioner, a first for a mass market brand, estimated to save 100 litres of water per tube.

The conditioner is produced in one of Garnier’s carbon neutral and state-ofthe-art waterloop factories, which make up 18% of Garnier’s production footprint; with the aim of 100% Carbon Neutral industrial sites by 2025 and 100% Waterloop by 2030.

Garnier’s bestselling, award-winning Micellar water, vegan and Leaping Bunny approved, will also be 100% recyclable and made from 100% recycled plastic from this year; made with more eco designed formulas and encouraging further water saving behaviours amongst consumers, as the product does not require rinsing after use.

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Market Analysis: Funding

Putting your best foot forward

Owen Clifford, Head of Retail Sector, Bank of Ireland, examines the areas you need to address in your business plan in order to secure funding to sustain your business going forward.

THE unprecedented sales performance of the last two years has acted as an accelerant in the evolution of the Irish grocery and convenience sector. As family owned retailers nationwide compete with international operators such as Tesco, Aldi, Lidl and Circle K, a recognition that investment is required to sustain their business has driven strong market activity.

In Bank of Ireland, we provided funding in excess of €125m to Irish family owned grocers in 2021, facilitating the development and growth of their businesses. In assessing a funding request, there are some important areas that need to be addressed within the retailer’s business plan.

In your business plan

Owen Clifford, Head of Retail Sector, Bank of Ireland.

Your business plan should include:

Retailer background & experience: Many retailers often forget to include some information on their own experience and background, focusing completely on the financial results of the business. Given the ever-changing, competitive nature of the sector, it is important to outline how your experience has been built and links with the community established. This is what differentiates family-owned retailers from their competitors nationwide – relationships are built with people.

Competitive landscape: Outline the existing competitive landscape in which you operate or which you propose to operate within and how your business stands out opposite and how you will engage with customers in this area. Are there plans for new entrants or refreshed offering from competitors in the pipe-line? If so, it’s always best to call these out at the outset. This demonstrates that you are proactive as opposed to reactive and fully informed on local developments.

Personnel development plan: Given the stretched labour market at present, attracting and retaining strong personnel is an imperative to sustain your business. How is this managed within your business? What are your future plans in this regard?

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Market Analysis: Funding Succession plan: Covid-19 has been the catalyst for many retailers to examine their medium/long-term strategy. There are two strands to succession planning: ownership and operational. It is always important to consider both in the context of seeking debt funding – this can often be a trigger for retailers to examine if pension, life assurance provisions etc are appropriate to meet their long-term personal requirements.

Back-up team: Who supports you in the day-to-day running of your business? A strong relationship with a recognised brand/wholesaler, specialist retail accountant etc. can provide additional comfort on the robustness of a business’ projections and strategy.

Financial projections / historic accounts: Financial projections need to clearly outline the expected performance of the business and the assumptions underpinning same:

Given the ever-changing, competitive nature of the Irish FMCG sector, it is important for a retailer to outline how your experience has been built and links with the community established.

Premises refresh/revamp priorities: When did the last significant store revamp occur? If a store revamp is envisaged in the next two years, on what areas will it be focused upon? What level of investment is required? Will there be an impact on sales, margin and cost post-completion – and how will it be funded etc? As always, I am available to act as a sounding board in respect of any revamp plans.

Sales performance – if growth is projected, what is driving same?

Margin – how will this be preserved and developed in a competitive market?

Cost base – given the increasing pressure on wages, energy, insurance lines, how will this be managed accordingly, whilst sustaining the profitability of the business?

A clear roadmap It is important to link the historic financial performance of the business and the projections – they cannot be presented in isolation. A clear roadmap demonstrating how the historic results will transition into the projected performance facilitates a constructive first step towards securing appropriate funding.

In Bank of Ireland, we understand the investment cycle, including the need for regular expenditure to maintain growth and profitability in this dynamic sector. We have a strong appetite to support progressive retailers in the further development of their business in 2022. Please contact me on Owen.Clifford@boi.com for further information.

The Irish retail grocery market requires regular expenditure to maintain growth and profitability in this dynamic sector.

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Employment Law

Dealing with an allegation of bullying

Bullying or employee management? There is an important distinction between the two, according to Barry Reynolds and Chris Ryan of DAC Beachcroft.

THE term bullying is commonly used, and perhaps increasingly so, in relation to workplace issues. This can occur where workplace relationships become toxic or dysfunctional or where there is some other kind of dispute or management issue.

Genuine cases of bullying are of course very serious.

Such cases must be addressed swiftly and decisively through informal (if appropriate) or formal processes, as well as by providing appropriate supports for the staff impacted. There are also cases in which the term bullying might be levelled at management inaccurately or unfairly. Examples could include: an aggrieved employee taking issue with a legitimate performance management process, with an attendance or absence management process or with a disciplinary process addressing potential misconduct on their part.

In this month’s article, we explain what bullying is, and what it is not, in line with the Code of Practice for Employers and Employees on the Prevention and Resolution of Bullying at Work 2020 (the Code) and leading Irish case law.

What is bullying?

Workplace bullying has a recognised definition and therefore there are limitations to what constitutes bullying. This is a fact which is not always appreciated by employees and employers alike when dealing with workplace issues. The Code, which was published by the Health and Safety Authority in collaboration with the Workplace Relations Commission, replaced two previous codes setting out employer obligations arising in the context of workplace bullying. The Code reiterates the widely accepted definition of bullying as being:

“repeated inappropriate behaviour, direct or indirect, whether verbal, physical or otherwise, conducted by one or more persons against another or others, at the place of work and/or in the course of employment, which could be reasonably regarded as undermining the individual’s right to dignity at work.”

Helpfully the Code also affirms that: “An isolated incident of the behaviour described in this definition may be an affront to dignity at work, but, as a once-off incident, is not considered to be bullying.”

It also outlines a non-exhaustive list of behaviours that are not considered bullying, including: • • • • • • •

harassment, which is subject to a separate code of practice; objective criticism and corrections; expressing differences of opinion strongly; offering constructive feedback; ordinary performance management; reasonable corrective action and direction; workplace disagreements.

If the conduct complained of does not fit within this broad definition, then put simply, it is not bullying. However, it is not always obvious from the outset if conduct actually occurred and, if it did occur, whether or not it was the kind of targeted

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Employment Law irrespective of whether employees work at a fixed location, at home or are mobile. It specifically sets out that bullying can take place by digital means, which would include telephone, emails, social media or even by way of Zoom or similar platforms. Policies should be updated to ensure that this is expressly acknowledged, especially now that remote work looks set to stay well beyond the pandemic.

Bullying can take place by digital means, and workplace policies should be updated to ensure that this is expressly acknowledged. behaviours which could be classified as bullying. A complicating factor is that even if the behaviours do not rise to meet the high bar of bullying, they may still be improper, unfair or otherwise unacceptable. To be clear, conduct can be improper but still not amount to bullying.

The Supreme Court, in the leading case of Ruffley v Board of Management of St Anne’s School ([2017] IESC 33), analysed the definition in detail and its conclusions remain important today. It emphasised how bullying is behaviour which has three characteristics: i. ii. iii.

of work, a safe system of work, a duty to ensure that an employee’s colleagues are competent, and that equipment used in the workplace is safe.

Remote work It is important that employers are aware that this obligation extends to employees working remotely as well. The Code makes this explicit by confirming that it applies to all employments in Ireland,

High bar The Ruffley case and the Code both make clear that in order to be bullying, the conduct must be serious and satisfy all of the elements of the test. There must be an ongoing series of an accumulation of seriously negative targeted behaviours against a person to undermine their esteem and standing in a harmful, sustained way. Bullying behaviour is offensive, ongoing, targeted and outside any reasonable ‘norm’. In any workplace scenario where management need to deal with allegations of bullying, this is the standard to be applied. The investigator must consider if the behaviours occurred and if they did so occur, if a reasonable person would regard them as clearly wrong, undermining and humiliating. This is only part of the test, as the findings should also canvass if the behaviours formed a repeated pattern.

What is not bullying?

Reference to the Code and the cases is helpful in identifying what does not constitute bullying. A disciplinary process, even if proven to be unfair and

it must be repeated; each instance of behaviour complained of must be inappropriate; it must be reasonably be regarded as capable of undermining dignity at work.

We return to these below but firstly summarise an employer’s duties more generally.

Obligations on employers Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, employers have a legal obligation to protect, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of their employees. Employers also have more general duties arising from the nature of the relationship itself, as interpreted by the Courts over many years. These include the duty to provide a safe place

Genuine cases of bullying are extremely serious and must be addressed swiftly and decisively through informal or formal processes, as well as by providing appropriate supports for the staff impacted.

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Employment Law flawed, is unlikely to be bullying. You cannot say it would never be thus, e.g. if there is personal animus at the foundation of the process. Performance management would be similarly not bullying unless it were found to be contrived to unfairly target an employee, was repeated and appropriately serious in undermining dignity. It would have to be “outrageous, unacceptable and exceeding all bounds tolerated by decent society”.

Managers should take comfort that they are entitled to make reasonable and constructive criticisms of an employee’s work performance or behaviour, including initiating disciplinary procedures or performance improvement procedures. For example, an employee may be repeatedly, but justly, informed that his/her performance falls continuously below required standards – while this may make an employee feel threatened and insecure, it does not indicate bullying by a manager, provided that the manager has acted appropriately. Striving for improvement and giving reasonable assistance is entirely proper. The Courts recognise that “correction and instruction are necessary in the functioning of any workplace”.

Bullying excludes “reasonable and essential discipline arising from good management”.

Employers should nevertheless exercise caution and always strive to be fair when managing employees in difficult situations. It is important to note that other risks can arise in addition to the focus of this article, which purely discusses bullying.

Harassment and penalisation could be alleged or duties arising from the employment contract itself may be invoked. These could include breach of fair procedures. They could include breach of the mutual duty of trust and confidence. To exclude bullying is not to exclude all risks. Not only are there conceivably circumstances in which an internal disciplinary or performance process may amount to bullying (for example, if an organisation was to maliciously target an employee), but there are other legal avenues available to employees who wish to challenge their treatment. Various proceedings can be instituted in the Workplace Relations Commission and in the Courts.

Appropriate advice should always be taken.

What should employers do?

This is a complex area. Needless to say, legal claims are best avoided, if possible.

The law in this area, as it does in every area, will continue to develop. There will be borderline cases and there will

“

Managers should take comfort that they are entitled to make reasonable and constructive criticisms of an employee’s work performance or behaviour, including initiating disciplinary procedures or performance improvement procedures.

”

be cases which present new questions.

Interpersonal dealings in the workplace can often be complex.

Employers cannot foresee every eventuality. Examples of steps which you should consider taking include: •

•

•

• • •

Minimising risk by complying with the key components of the Code, including familiarity with its provisions overall.

Continuing to be vigilant to ensure that inappropriate interpersonal behaviours are discouraged and dealt with then they occur. This may include seeking professional advice in appropriate cases, which may, in some instances, be at the outset of an issue arising or as an issue unfolds.

The Code leans firmly, and very sensibly, in the direction of informal resolution. It has not one, but two, informal processes for staff to seek to resolve matters without the need for a formal investigation. You should seek to ensure that managers are alive to the appropriate procedures to be adopted on receipt of a complaint, including the options to encourage informal resolution.

While informal resolution may seem difficult, if it can be achieved, it will very often salvage relationships to a far greater extent than any formal process could achieve and it will also ultimately save costs.

All employers should update their internal procedures.

All employers should consider providing appropriate training.

Managers and Human Resources

•

•

departments must be able to recognise when a complaint warrants the putting in place of a bullying focused investigation or alternatively if a grievance procedure or some other kind of process is more appropriate.

Employers should have in place appropriate supports. An employer is entitled to expect ordinary robustness from staff but must be prepared to recognise vulnerabilities and treat the employee in a manner which would reasonably be expected to safeguard their wellbeing.

Where bullying is found to have occurred, employers must appropriately address it through disciplinary procedures as well as other preventative and remedial steps. It is not just the bullying itself which can give rise to an exposure, but also failures in employers’ responses and their internal systems, such as inadequate policies and procedures, delayed outcomes and inadequate corrective action.

Insofar as bullying is concerned, employers must be able to recognise an issue and deal with it in accordance with the Code and in a timely and fair manner.

If you have any queries or require any assistance in relation to any of the above, please contact Barry Reynolds or Chris Ryan.

About the Authors BARRY Reynolds (breynolds@ dacbeachcroft.com) and Chris Ryan (chryan@dacbeachcroft.com) of DAC Beachcroft (https://www. dacbeachcroft.com/en/gb/locations/ dublin/) are specialists in employment law. This article is for general information purposes only and does not comprise legal or professional advice. You should not rely on any of the material in this article without seeking appropriate legal advice.

Twitter: @dacbeachcroft LinkedIn: DAC Beachcroft Dublin

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What’s New MÜLLER CORNER & RTE TANGO TOGETHER AGAIN MÜLLER Corner have returned as a sponsor on RTÉ’s Dancing with the Stars, the country’s most popular dance-off show, and are supporting it with a significant promotional campaign to help drive consumer demand instore of Müller Corner Irish Favourites. Special promotional packs hit the shelves at the end of January to include a Text and Win Competition to win a pair of tickets to attend a ‘live’ show and overnight hotel stay. The multipack includes Müller’s best ever Müller Corner recipe, which contains more protein and has a thicker and creamier texture. It includes Strawberry, Vanilla Chocolate Balls and Milk Chocolate Digestives. “It’s such a great feel-good show and is exactly what the country needs right now,” noted Sean Cleary, Head of Müller Ireland.

“The audience matches brilliantly with our Müller Corner customer and is perfectly aligned with our brand purpose - to inspire happy, healthy lifestyles.”

WARHAMMER STICKER AND TRADING CARD COLLECTABLES LAUNCHED PANINI have announced a new partnership with Games Workshop to create a range of Warhammer collectables, with 2022 launches for both stickers and trading cards. Prepare for battle with Panini’s first new launch, Warhammer 40,000: Warriors of the Emperor Sticker Collection, a mighty collection of 204 stickers and 50 Hero Cards, with a buildable box and a double-sided pull-out Space Marines Armoury poster. “We are privileged to be given the opportunity to work on such a popular IP with a dedicated fan base and look forward to working with the team at Games Workshop to create a wide range of products that consumers will love,” noted Jess Tadmor of Panini. Meanwhile, Panini revealed that their Premier League 2022 Sticker Collection is enjoying record sales, with unprecedented demand.

MASH DIRECT LAUNCH SKINNY FRIES MASH Direct, the award-winning ‘field to fork’ vegetable accompaniments brand, have launched their latest potato-based product to add to their innovative range in the form of Skinny Fries! Made with Mash Direct’s signature farm fresh potatoes, the Skinny Fries are prepared immediately after harvesting to ensure freshness, flavour and to retain the natural texture and nutritional benefits of the produce. The Skinny Fries product offers Mash Direct’s famous home-grown potatoes thinly cut, coated in a light crispy batter and fried for a perfect texture. Oven-cooked in just 15-20 minutes from chilled, the product is gluten-free and also boasts three green traffic lights for being low in saturated fat, salt and sugar, and is full of natural veggie goodness.

CADBURY UNVEILS PLANT-BASED CHOCOLATE CADBURY Ireland have revealed the release of their first ever plant-based chocolate bar, Cadbury Plant Bar. The Cadbury Plant Bar is a plant-based alternative to the nation’s favourite chocolate, Cadbury Dairy Milk.

Debuting in two delicious flavours, Cadbury Plant Bar Smooth Chocolate and Cadbury Plant Bar Smooth Chocolate with Salted Caramel pieces, the all-new plant-based chocolate is now available nationwide (RRP €3.99). Developed over two years at Mondelez International’s Global Centre of Excellence for Chocolate Research and Development in Bournville, the bar replaces the milk with almond paste, which provides a similar taste and texture to milk ingredients while offering a hint of nuttiness.

Cadbury’s new Plant Bar range carries the Vegan Trademark as registered by the Vegan Society and is wrapped in 100% plant-based packaging.

TESCO FINEST* LAUNCH HANDCRAFTED CHOCOLATE BARS TESCO Ireland have launched five new handcrafted chocolate bars to their Tesco finest* range. The selection of delectable treats feature silky-smooth Belgian chocolate made to perfection by the Irish chocolatier experts at Lir, based in Co. Meath. Featuring premium ingredients and on-trend flavours, the new range of Tesco Finest Chocolate Bars includes: Tesco finest* Belgian Dark Chocolate Bar, Tesco finest* Belgian Dark Peppermint Chocolate Bar, Tesco finest* Belgian Smooth Milk Chocolate Bar, Tesco finest* Belgian Milk Chocolate Madagascan Vanilla & Sea Salted Caramel Bar, Tesco finest* Belgian Milk Chocolate Orange Bar.

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Forecourt Focus: News

Circle K Christmas charity initiative raises €32,400 for Jack & Jill CIRCLE K’s Christmas charity initiative raised €32,400 in much-needed funds for the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, which delivers specialist home nursing and end-of-life care for children from birth to six years of age who have highly complex and life-limiting medical conditions.

The Circle K initiative, which took place in sites nationwide (excluding Circle K Express), saw €1 from every car-wash purchased from December 19-24 donated to the children’s charity. Through the support of Circle K customers and colleagues, the funds raised will provide 1,800 hours of vital home nursing care to the 412 children currently under the care of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, right across the country.

“We are delighted to make this donation to the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation and lend our support to a fantastic organisation,” noted Emmet Toft, Carwash Manager at Circle K Ireland. “Circle K is committed to doing all we can to support families who face incomprehensible challenges. I would like to thank all my colleagues and our customers for their support of our Christmas initiative, and we will be announcing the details of more fundraising initiatives that will take place at sites across Ireland to support Jack & Jill in the coming months.”

Carmel Doyle, CEO of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, added: “I was delighted to be at Circle K Artane to thank Emmet

and all the staff and customers for their generosity and hard work. This whopping €32,400 that has been raised by Circle K is a real gift of time that funds home nursing care hours for our Jack & Jill families. This huge effort also reminds us that no one walks this care journey alone and that our Jack & Jill families are really supported by their home community.”

Pictured are Carmel Doyle, CEO, Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, and Emmet Toft, Carwash Manager, Circle K Ireland, announcing that Circle K’s Christmas charity initiative raised €32,400 for the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation.

Applegreen customer becomes first National Lottery millionaire of 2022 AN Applegreen customer became the first National Lottery millionaire of 2022 after winning the top prize of €1m in the Daily Million draw on January 5. The winning Quick Pick ticket was sold on the day of the draw at the Applegreen M4 Enfield Westbound Service Station in Martinstown, Cadamstown, Co. Kildare.

Staff were thrilled to hear that one of their customers scooped the top prize of €1 million in the 2pm Daily Million draw. “This is great news to get during the first week of the year,” enthused Site Manager Ella Tyrala. “We are delighted that one of our customers has now officially become a millionaire. The entire team was over the moon when we received the news from the National Lottery. We hope that the lucky winner checks their ticket soon and enjoys their lifechanging win.”

Ella Tyrala (centre), Site Manager at Applegreen M4 Enfield Westbound Service Station, and staff members Anna Kosinska Jurek and Raimonde Meksriunite celebrate selling the winning National Lottery ticket with Shane Kenny of the National Lottery.

Wowburger opens in Circle K Navan WOWBURGER kick-started 2022 with a brand new location in Circle K, Navan, Co. Meath, which opened on January 18, becoming the 24th Wowburger location. “With another tough year of uncertainty behind us, we are delighted to enter the new year with a positive success story,” noted Susan Bell, Head of Operations. “Bringing 15 jobs to the town of Navan, we are excited to expand our horizons and welcome a new Wowburger to the family!”

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Forecourt Focus: News

Applegreen launches primary schools ‘BioDive’ sticker collection APPLEGREEN is inviting primary schools across the country to participate in a new biodiversity programme called BioDive. The programme is supported by both education organisation Biodiversity in Schools, who provide classrooms with teaching resources and interactive kits to promote awareness and understanding of biodiversity, and Éanna Ní Lamhna, passionate Irish biodiversity expert. Participating schools will each receive a BioDive pack with a bespoke classroom poster featuring beautiful illustrations of native Irish animals, insects and plant life, as well as space for stickers. The 120 collectable stickers will each include an image of an Irish species and its name in both English and Irish, along with an interesting or fun fact. Stickers were available in stores from February 14 and Applegreen customers can collect the BioDive stickers over three release Pictured is Fiona Matthews, MD, Applegreen Ireland, BioDive Ambassador phases (available in packs of 3 with any Éanna Ní Lamhna and 4th class pupil’s from St Christopher’s National School, instore purchase of €5 or more) up until Dublin 4, Amelia Wetton and Lola Sunderland, in Herbert Park at the launch of April 28. Applegreen customers can also Applegreen’s primary school programme, BioDive. collect the stickers and fill in their own illustrated collector’s book, which will Ní Lamhna,” said Applegreen Ireland Managing Director, Fiona be available to purchase from Applegreen stores. Schools that Matthews. “Éanna is such a fun and inspiring person, we loved complete the BioDive classroom poster with all 120 stickers working with her and seeing how she brings Irish biodiversity will be in with a chance of winning a biodiversity garden worth to life for all ages. We hope our BioDive campaign will be €10,000. Runner-up prizes include workshops delivered by welcomed by schools and parents and help feed the children’s Biodiversity in Schools. curiosity about the flora and fauna that’s all around us.

“We are proud to continue to do what we can to embed “As an Irish company, we recognise the challenges facing sustainability in our business and support our local biodiversity in Ireland and feel we have an opportunity to communities. We are delighted to launch this colourful support our local communities by providing resources to campaign, with the support of our BioDive Ambassador, Éanna schools and children that can effect change now.”

Roscommon EuroMillions player scoops €500k in Corrib Oil forecourt A EuroMillions player in the Castlerea area of Roscommon won €500,000 on the EuroMillions Plus draw on December 21. The winning Quick Pick ticket was purchased at the Corrib Oil Service Station/Spar store on St Patrick’s Street in Castlerea.

“All of our staff are delighted with the win and excited that one of our customers has come into such good luck,” noted Keith Gallagher, Manager of the Corrib Oil Service Station.

Staff members Teresa Brehony, Sarah Lavin and Breege Casey were pictured celebrating at the Corrib Oil Service Station on St Patrick’s Street in Castlerea, Co. Roscommon, after it was announced that one of their customers won the top prize of €500,000 in the December 21 EuroMillions Plus draw.

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Shelf Life THE students of St Etchen’s National School, Kinnegad, are pictured celebrating winning €3,000 in the Avonmore Super Milk Super Science Experiment competition, with school principal Matt Melvin, teacher Sandra Champkin and Chair of the Parents’ Council Marena Donnelly. Now in its third year, the Avonmore Super Milk Super Science Experiment encourages primary schools nationwide to engage in a STEM-based lesson, while learning about the importance of bone health. The campaign teaches children how the nutrients in Avonmore Super Milk - in particular Vitamin D and calcium - help build healthy bones for life.

LIDL Ireland’s annual festive fundraiser Trolley Dash raised over €280,000 in support of charity partner Jigsaw, the national centre for youth mental health in Ireland. Winning customers took to the aisles to scoop their Christmas shopping as part of the festive fundraiser and bagged over 170 trolley loads of groceries just in time for Christmas. For two weeks annually in November, Trolley Dash tickets are sold in Lidl stores nationwide for just €1 each, offering customers the chance to win a supermarket sweep-style dash around their local Lidl store. Since its inauguration in 2014 the festive fundraiser has raised over €2m for the supermarket’s charity partners and given away trolley loads of Christmas groceries to the lucky winners. Zoe Ryan is pictured at the Trolley Dash in Lidl, Church Street, Tullamore.

PINERGY have been announced as the title sponsor of the Munster Schools Senior Cup rugby competition for at least the next four years. As part of the sponsorship, Pinergy will support the premier schools rugby tournament in the province, powering the development and sustainability of the game for young players throughout the region. David Slattery, Head of Marketing at Pinergy, said: “We are incredibly proud and delighted to be the new sponsors of the Munster Schools Senior Cup.” ALDI Ireland have agreed a new two-year deal with Cork-based Velo Coffee Roasters to supply all of their 149 Irish stores with their popular ground coffee. As part of this new contract, Velo Coffee’s award-winning Velo Tandem Coffee will be rebranded under Aldi’s premium Specially Selected range as Velo Specially Selected.

Velo Coffee Roasters have seen strong growth in recent years, and will sell almost 500,000 bags of coffee across Aldi’s 149 stores over the next two years. In addition to the move to the Specially Selected range, customers will be able to find the same great tasting coffee in new fully recyclable packaging.

ONE lucky player in Kilkenny scooped a €250,000 prize after purchasing their Lotto Plus 2-winning Quick Pick ticket on Friday, January 14, in Kitty’s Cabin on Rose Inn Street in the heart of Kilkenny City. Kitty’s Cabin staff Ciaran Hennessy, Therese Hanley, Carmel Kealy, Peter Brett and Ide Purcell are pictured celebrating as details of the win were announced.

LEADING corporate gifting platform Sendoso have announced a new partnership with Snack Farm, an Irish provider of healthy and great tasting snacks full of natural energy, fibre and protein. The partnership will result in Snack Farm’s product being available on the Sendoso platform and allowing the Irish company to reach new global markets. Rob Kearney, retired Irish rugby player, joined Snack Farm in January 2021 as Director of Wellbeing and works on new product development and corporate wellbeing projects. The products that are developed will be utilised by Sendoso and displayed on their platform to a worldwide audience. Pictured are (l-r): Padraig Staunton, CEO, Snack Farm; Rob Kearney, Director of Wellbeing, Snack Farm; and Kris Rudeegraap, CEO and co-founder of Sendoso.

TARA O’Connor has been appointed as a Director of Sales & Supply Chain for Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland. Tara previously worked in executive positions, including Head of Retail Operations, and in the retailer’s Dublin head office, regional office in Charleville and in its international operations. Tara will oversee the head office sales and supply chain functions, which are responsible for the smooth operations of 173 stores in the Republic of Ireland and 41 in Northern Ireland.

BUSHMILLS Irish Whiskey have announced the highly anticipated return of Black Bush Stories for 2022 with an exciting first collaboration to mark International Irish Whiskey Day on March 3 – a virtual masterclass with Belfast coffee trailblazers, Established Coffee. The event is part of the long running Black Bush Stories series, which celebrates the synergies of craft between Bushmills and other local Irish business across the island. Guided by experts from Bushmills and Established Coffee, guests at the event will discover, create, and of course, taste, a variety of bespoke Black Bush and coffee inspired serves featuring a specially curated, limited edition, Black Bush blended coffee in the starring role. Pictured is Mark Ashbridge, founder of Established Coffee.

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At the IGBF we assist the families of over 300 of your colleagues every month. These families are more unfortunate than ourselves and without your support such assistance would not be possible...

But we still need your help to continue making the difference.

To Donate: ww.igbf.

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Why are Tesco, SuperValu and Centra so big on locally sourced and packaged milk with the NDC trademark?

It’s a question of commitment.

Their shared commitment: • To all year round, sustainable quality milk production • To guaranteed, locally sourced, processed and packed milk • To Irish dairy farmers whose expertise and hard work delivers excellence • To grass-fed goodness borne from lush Irish fields It’s all good. Every time you choose milk with the NDC trademark.

www.ndc.ie